Recent rain in southern Queensland, earlier a main drought area, is now delaying harvest. Higher protein Prime Hard grade accounts for almost 30 percent of deliveries from Queensland, accompanied by higher than normal screenings, or small-sized grain. AWB still sees Queensland production down by about 30 percent on last year's 1.7 million tonnes. A dramatic change in the rainfall profile in northern NSW over the past two weeks had reversed some of the yield loss caused by September's dry weather, AWB's spokeswoman said. Harvest had begun in the north of the state with about 27,000 tonnes received into silo, although progress had been slowed by rain.
More rain is forecast for next week.
Crops in southern NSW continued to develop well with another above average season still expected. AWB is still forecasting state production of lower than last year's 8.0 million tonnes, but higher than the five-year average of 5.3 million tonnes. In Victoria, increased rain, high winds and frost had damaged some crops, but generally the crop was in good shape, AWB said. Most crops have benefited from recent rain. Cereal crops were generally missed by recent frost, but pulse crops were hit.