Dry June hits crop forecast

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MANY of Australia’s productive agricultural regions have been hit by the driest June on record.

Rabobank’s Agribusiness Monthly report says wheat yields have been downgraded in cropping regions in Western Australia, South Australia and northern NSW. Large parts of NSW and southern Queensland didn’t get any rain in June and grain growing regions in South Australia and Victoria received only one to five millimetres.

The West Australian wheatbelt received just 5 to 15mm of rainfall in June, “too little, too late” for some crops in the north.

“Yield downgrades for parts of the Western Australian, South Australian and northern NSW cropping zones are being factored in and even areas with previously excellent prospects such as the Riverina of NSW now face moisture deficits,” Rabobank said. Don’t miss the all- new Motoring section for the latest car news, road tests, reviews and comparisons. Plus the latest auto trends.