Western Australia drives hefty crop figures
Australia’s 2025 winter grain harvest is set to reach 62.8 million tonnes, up 6.4 per cent on last year, with wheat, barley, canola, and pulses driving the increase.
Australia is set to harvest a larger winter grain crop this season, with total production expected to reach 62.8 million tonnes, up 6.4 per cent on last year and 6.1 per cent above the five-year average.
The new data from Rabobank shows production is being led by Western Australia, but there are concerns for Victoria and southern NSW, where large areas of crop are being cut for hay and silage.
Victorian Farmers Federation grains president Ryan Milgate said in his area, the Wimmera, the harvest was going to be better than last year.
However, he said potential was nowhere near where it could have been if spring had delivered for farmers.
“Barley and lentils seem to be hanging on, and canola is mixed, but wheat has really battled,” he said.
Mr Milgate said the price drop for lentils, which was now in the mid $500s a tonne compared to $900 in July, was a big burden for Victorian farmers this harvest.
RaboResearch senior analyst Vitor Pistoia said above-average rainfall in key regions, particularly Western Australia and northern NSW, had boosted yields.
Wheat production was expected to reach 34.1m tonnes, barley 14.9m tonnes, and canola 6.5m tonnes.
Pulses are forecast to grow 16 per cent year-on-year, with chickpeas, lentils, lupins, and faba beans contributing to the rise.
Despite strong yields, Rabobank cautioned that global oversupply, particularly from Russia, the EU, the US, and Canada, is likely to weigh on prices.
Domestic demand for barley remained strong and was boosted by livestock markets, while potential EU and Chinese demand may influence canola markets.
The latest Grain Industry of Western Australia forecast projects a harvest of 25.5m tonnes, up from 23.7m tonnes last month, an increase of 7.6 per cent, with some industry leaders predicting a record year for the west. In 2022-23 WA harvested a record 26.0m tonne crop.
Western Australian farmer Barry Large said he believes there could be a record harvest in his state.
The Miling farmer had begun cutting oaten hay and said it was yielding as much as 10 tonnes/ha.
Typically he would see yields of 7 tonnes/ha.
“I don’t like speculating too much but going on that we are certainly going to get above average yields,” he said.
Mr Large said he felt for farmers in South Australia and Victoria who were having a difficult season.
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