The Australian government cut its forecast for the 2008/09 wheat crop by ll.4 percent to 19.91 million tonnes on Wednesday, citing a lack of spring rain across south-east Australia. The cut from a previous forecast of 22.46 million tonnes in September by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics (ABARE) brings the forecast into line with others by private consultants.
Last week Australian Crop Forecasters lowered its 2008/09 harvest estimate to 19.5 million tonnes from 20 million tonnes because dry weather in the country's south-east had destroyed some crops.