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Record grain harvest for South Australia

16 February 2011

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Science is predicting a record grain harvest for South Australia.

Minister for Agriculture Michael O'Brien says ABARES estimates a 38 per cent increase in the 2010/11 winter crop production to 9.8 million tonnes - the largest on record.

"This increase in the estimate issued by ABARES is a result of more favourable growing conditions across South Australia compared with the previous season,' Minister O'Brien says.

"While it is disappointing that excessive rain in some areas resulted in a reduction in grain quality, the growth in production across the State is still welcome news after the prolonged drought.

"Wheat production is up 38 per cent to 5.8 million tonnes, barley up 40 per cent to 2.9 million tonnes and canola up 37 per cent to 361,000 tonnes.'

South Australia's record harvest coincides with a 5.5 per cent rise in international wheat prices and an 8.4 per cent rise in international barley prices during the December quarter.

Minister O'Brien says South Australian farmers faced a number of significant challenges this season including excessive rains in December and the continued threat from locust infestation.

He also acknowledged the record harvest had been a major test of the logistics and infrastructure of South Australia's grain harvesting, transport, receivable and storage systems.