Rain is forecast to fall this week over much of the grain growing regions of Western Australia, Australia's top grain exporting state, improving prospects for planting winter crops such as wheat, barley and canola. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said on Tuesday that falls of up to 10 millimetres were expected on Wednesday.
The bureau says there is a 50 percent chance of up to 200 millimetres of rain falling over much of the state's crop growing districts during the three months to June when winter crops will be sown. Farmers say good falls are needed by mid-May to guarantee crops as, unlike last year, there have been few cyclonic storms in recent weeks to boost sub-soil moisture.
"Right now the weather forecast is a bet each way but obviously we're all hoping we'll get a break and get on with it," said Derek Clauson, grains president of the state's farmer association. Last season Western Australian grain growers produced their third biggest crop on record at almost 13 million tonnes. The state's leading grain handling and marketing group, CBH Group, said rain would encourage farmers to plant big crops of wheat and canola, though acres planted with barley might be down on last year because of weaker prices.