WA crops could be down 20%: ABARE

The Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Research Economics has warned there could be a 20 per cent downturn in WA's winter crops because of the dry conditions being experienced across the state.

ABARE is forecasting more than 40 million tonnes to come from paddocks nationally this season.

But ABARE warns if there's no rain in the wheatbelt in the next fortnight the impact of WA's crops will be significant.

"Winter crop production in Western Australia is forecast to be around 9.7 million tonnes, which is over 20 per cent less than last season," said bureau deputy executive director Paul Morris.

Hopes for that rain are supported by the Bureau of Meteorology, which has suggested there is a 60 to 65 per cent possibility of better than average rainfall in the western wheat belt.

Higher harvests have been predicted for all three major grains - wheat, barley and canola.

The summer crop is looking just as good.

Crops such as cotton and rice are all predicted to deliver well for farmers.

"Total summer crop production is forecast to increase by 52 per cent to around 3.8 million tonnes in 2010-11, reflecting an increase in the area sown to summer crops," the bureau said.

However, much of this national optimism could be ruined in the coming weeks as locusts begin to hatch from South Australia to Queensland.