Largest ever grain crop expected

Western Australia could produce a record-breaking 20 million tonnes of grain this season, according to the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia's crop report.

This years' crop is expected to surpass the last record-breaking crop in 2016 when 18.6mt was harvested. 

In the 2021 season, wheat production is expected to be 11.3mt, barley is estimated to reach 4.9mt and canola around 2.5mt.

These figures are all higher than in the 2016 crop, when 10.2mt of wheat, 4.2mt of barley and 2.2mt of canola were harvested.

The Geraldton zone is on target to harvest a record 3.6mt due to excellent growing conditions because of high rainfall and crops being planted earlier than normal.

Esperance is also expected to break a record, harvesting 3.2mt, due to the crops in the north of the zone having a good year.

Kwinana was estimated to produce 9.5mt and Albany is predicted to harvest 3.8mt.

In the Kwinana zone, the report said Kwinana North Midlands and Kwinana North East were expecting good results.

In Kwinana South, 10-15 per cent of the western areas have been impacted by waterlogging while in the east, grain yield potential was up to 50 per cent greater than normal for many growers.

Regions in Albany also had variable results.

In Albany West, the report said tonnage out of the region would be reduced after it was too wet to finish planting and severe waterlogging occurred in low-lying areas.

Albany South was also subject to waterlogging, while Albany East was experiencing great results due to an early start, good growing conditions and higher nitrogen use.

The report said frost was the greatest risk to the 2021 crop, as the early start to the season meant the whole crop would be exposed to a longer period of risk.

However, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s forecast indicated a repeat of frost events in September 2016 was unlikely.

GIWA said if frost did occur, recovery would be quick due to good levels of sub-soil moisture.

The report named heat stress as a potential threat to the crop but said the above-average levels of sub-soil moisture would help the crops through any spikes in temperature.

The good growing conditions have been accompanied by an increased risk of pests, including mice damage to canola and lupins in the north of the state and locusts in all crops in the eastern areas.

Weather conditions in the lead up to harvest are forecast to be drier than average which will have a positive impact after the wet weather to date.