Early harvested sorghum crops across Southern Queensland has provided some variable results.
Crops planted in early have resulted in some mixed yields depending on the rainfall.
Yields have ranged from very good to slightly below average depending on the in crop rainfall.
Even at the farm level, farmers are reporting significant yield variations just depending on where the storms have fallen.
The best of the crops are coming in with well above average yields that are upwards of 5 tonne per hectare although those less fortunate reporting average to slightly below average yields.
Later planted crops are generally in good conditions but farmers would like to see more finishing rain in the coming weeks to maximise yields.
Central Queensland crop conditions also remain variable. CQ farmers are now in the main summer crop planting window and many farmers are still looking for rain to progress.
Mung beans are also looking very good. A favourable finish is expected to see Darling Downs harvest their largest mung bean crop ever after high prices attracted a big planting.
Mung bean prices remain at elevated levels reflecting a second consecutive below par pulse harvest in India.
Traders are still quoting mung beans price in the $1300 to $1400 range Brisbane which are among the best prices ever seen.
It’s a similar situation with chickpeas which are currently above $1000 Brisbane compared to $600 a tonne a year ago before rally to around $800 a tonne in April.
Southern Queensland grain prices were steady to slightly firmer last week.
Sorghum prices into the Darling Downs markets were $4 higher at $246 delivered helped by firmer overseas markets and solid buying interest from container exporters.
Stockfeed wheat bids into the Downs were $5 higher last week at $275 while feed barley was unchanged at $254.
Global export competition for export homes remains strong.
Last week the International Grains Council raised its forecast of 2015-16 global wheat production by 5 million tonnes to 731 million.
World wheat ending stocks were also raised by 5 million tonnes to 213 million tonnes.
They said global grain stocks at the end of the 2015-16 season may reach a 29-year high or 455 million tonnes.
However the council said the outlook for later in 2016 was more promising with preliminary estimates indicating world wheat production may decline to the lowest level in four year.
