THE state’s final harvest tally is an estimated 7.2 million tonnes, worth an estimated $1.8 billion, according to the SA government’s latest Crop and Pasture Report.
Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said despite the hot, dry finish to the season and frost damage in some areas, crop production in SA was more than the 10-year average from the 3.8m hectares planted.
“Despite the challenging season, SA’s grain sector continues to be a powerhouse industry generating more than $4.6b in revenue in 2014-15, with about 85 per cent exported throughout the world,” he said.
The figure is a vast difference from the final total receivals from Viterra of 5.9mt.
PIRSA’s Grains Industry account manager Dave Lewis said overall the yields were highly variable.
“Wheat crops were above average on the Eyre Peninsula and parts of the Upper North and Mid North districts, ranging to below average yields in the southern Mallee and South East, particularly the Upper SE where wheat production was only 55pc of average,” he said.
“Wheat crops were generally more affected by the hot, dry finish with significant tonnages downgraded.
“Barley yields were average to above average in most districts. Grain quality was highly variable, with a high percentage downgraded due to low test weights and high screenings.”
Pulse crops were the worst affected by the hot, dry conditions, with bean and vetch crops 50pc below average and pea, lentil and lupin crops all yielding well below average. But a number of production estimates were revised upwards in the report, Mr Lewis said.
He said frost in October caused significant damage in isolated pockets, particularly in the Upper North and northern and southern Mallee.
Meanwhile, the ABARES Australian Crop Report, also released this week, estimated SA’s total winter crop production to have risen by 4pc to 7.2mt, from 6.875mt in 2014-15.
It also said the total area sown increased by 4pc to 3.5mha.
Wheat production also increased 4pc to 4.4mt, barley increased 7pc to 1.9mt, while canola remained largely unchanged at 296,000t.
“Harvest progress was delayed in November because of fires in the state,” the report said.
“Some farmers in the affected regions suffered losses but aggregate state production was not significantly affected.”
PIRSA reported about 22,500ha of unharvested crops were burnt, with an estimated crop loss of 60,000t of grain, 33,000t of hay and 50,000t of straw.
Mr Lewis said strong winds following the fire caused significant soil erosion, particularly on lighter soils.
“Most farmers have cultivated burnt areas to bring up soil clods to reduce the erosion risk,” he said.
“This has been relatively effective in most areas.”
- View the PIRSA report at pir.sa.gov.au/cropreport