Australia to cut wheat production by 10% in 2025/26 — ABARES

Australia’s wheat production in 2025-26 will fall by 10% to 30.6 million tonnes, but the expected harvest is well above the 10-year average, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES).

Low soil moisture in southern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the northern grain belt of Western Australia has forced some farmers to reduce their acreage. Dry soils now leave yields dependent on rainfall in June, the ABARES report says.

More favourable weather conditions are developing in Queensland, northern New South Wales and southern Western Australia.

Barley production is expected to fall by 3% to 12.8 million tonnes and canola by 6% to 5.7 million tonnes.

Over the past 10 years, Australia has produced an average of 27.6 million tonnes of wheat, 11.8 million tonnes of barley and 4.8 million tonnes of rapeseed per year.

This year, wheat is planned to be sown on 12.6 million hectares (minus 3% compared to the previous year), barley – 4.7 million hectares (plus 2%), rapeseed – 3.4 million hectares (minus 1%).

Tags: Australia, crop forecast