News
29.04.2009
Rain boosted prospects for Australia's winter crops
Good rainfall in key growing regions in Australia's drought-hit south-east has boosted prospects for winter crops such as wheat, barley and canola, just as planting gets underway. Private consultancy Australian Crop Forecasters (ACF) said on Monday the rain had come at an ideal time and would allow growers to start sowing new crops.
Some parts of the region had been suffering from a six-year long drought, the worst in more than 100 years, causing grain production to plummet. ACF said most of southeast Australia's crop growing regions had received rain over the past five days that totalled close to the average monthly rain for April. The state of South Australia's grain belt received 21.0 millimetres during the five days to Sunday, to take the amount received this month to 23.2 millimetres, just short of the region's average rainfall for April of 23.4 millimetres.
Reuters
