A major world wheat exporter, Australia’s harvest this season is set to plunge by 26 percent from last year to 26.7 million tonnes, according to the agriculture department’s quarterly assessment.<\/p>\n
Australian wheat is grown in winter, which has just started in the southern hemisphere, and most of it is exported to Asia and the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The forecast wheat crop is 23 percent below the five-year average and eight percent below the 10-year average, the government report said.<\/p>\n
Farmers were expected to cut the total area planted with wheat by 12 percent, it said, citing lower profitability compared to other crops and “very dry” conditions in northern regions.<\/p>\n
Winter crops of all types in Australia have been hit by the disruption to the global supply of liquid fuels and fertilisers, it said.<\/p>\n
“If the Middle East conflict continues, the cost of inputs is likely to remain elevated for longer which could weigh on production,” the report warned.<\/p>\n
It noted reports of surging mouse populations in parts of Western Australia and South Australia.<\/p>\n
“An emergency permit for double-strength mouse baits has been conditionally approved by Australia’s chemical regulator with growers actively baiting to control numbers.”<\/p>\n
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