Following a bumper crop last year in South Australia, it comes as no surprise to growers that the first harvest estimation has dropped significantly due to the dry start to winter.
The latest Crop and Pasture Report from Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) estimates the harvest at 6.4 million tonnes, down from last year's final total of 11.1 million.
Many farmers had a record dry start to the season with the report showing the first four months to the end of June saw the lowest five per cent rainfall on record for the Eyre Peninsula and central Yorke Peninsula.
PIRSA grains account manager Dave Lewis said this was just the first estimate and conditions could improve with more rainfall.
"We anticipate it may be revised upwards if we do see some more rain in the coming weeks and the crop area is increased following the last bit of seeding," he said.
Many areas are patchy across the state with some farmers choosing not to sow at all around the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas and the lower north.
Mr Lewis said there had been some good crop emergences in the upper, mid and lower north and Mallee districts.
He said while an estimate of 6.4 million tonne was a lot lower than previous years, it was far more than would have been expected 20 years ago.
"It does reaffirm that South Australian farmers are putting in the effort in the cropping and pasture management," he said.
The latest Crop and Pasture Report from Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) estimates the harvest at 6.4 million tonnes, down from last year's final total of 11.1 million.
Many farmers had a record dry start to the season with the report showing the first four months to the end of June saw the lowest five per cent rainfall on record for the Eyre Peninsula and central Yorke Peninsula.
PIRSA grains account manager Dave Lewis said this was just the first estimate and conditions could improve with more rainfall.
"We anticipate it may be revised upwards if we do see some more rain in the coming weeks and the crop area is increased following the last bit of seeding," he said.
Many areas are patchy across the state with some farmers choosing not to sow at all around the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas and the lower north.
Mr Lewis said there had been some good crop emergences in the upper, mid and lower north and Mallee districts.
He said while an estimate of 6.4 million tonne was a lot lower than previous years, it was far more than would have been expected 20 years ago.
"It does reaffirm that South Australian farmers are putting in the effort in the cropping and pasture management," he said.
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