Glacier FarmMedia — Australian farmers are forecast to grow slightly more canola and barley this year, while wheat production may dip, according to the latest estimates from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). However, with relatively favourable growing conditions, production of all winter season crops should come in well above the 10-year averages.
In its September quarterly outlook, ABARES forecast 2025/26 canola production in the country at 6.45 million tonnes, which would be up by 0.8 per cent on the year despite a 1.7 per cent decline in seeded area as yields improved. If realized, canola production would be 34 per cent above the 10-year average.
For wheat, Australian production is forecast at 33.77 million tonnes, which would be down by 1.0 per cent on the year by still the fourth-largest crop on record and 22 per cent above the 10-year average.
Barley production is estimated to rise 9.7 per cent from 2024/25 at 14.55 million tonnes, which would be 23 per cent above the 10-year average.
Australia’s winter crops are typically harvested in the country’s summer months, from September through December.
