Australia forecasts 2011-12 summer crop areas and productions

Generally favourable growing conditions for summer crops are forecast to drive higher yields and production for Australian summer crops in 2011-12.

Total summer crop planted area is estimated to be largely unchanged in 2011–12 at around 1.6 million hectares.

Total summer crop production is forecast to rise by 18 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.4 million tonnes, which reflects the favourable outlook for yields for cotton and grain sorghum.

Australian summer crop planting area (000 ha)
Crop	2011-12 s (est.)	2010–11 s	change%
Maize	77	61	+26.2
Sorghum	632	674	-6.2
Sunflower	40	29	+37.9
Cotton	600	590	+1.7
Rice	109	75	+45.3
Others	109	83	+31.3
Total	1,567	1,512	+3.6

In releasing the Australian Crop Report, Executive Director of Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (ABARES), Paul Morris, said that despite the overall favourable outlook, some producers of summer crops in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales have suffered hardship because of the untimely heavy rainfall and flooding. 

Full report