Fickle east coast weather patterns dealt more torment for Queensland grain farmers as torrential rain battered the south eastern Queensland coast and hinterlands, with limited rain falling west of the range to help parched winter crops.
Farmers received welcome showers on the weekend, but totals fell well short of what's needed to resurrect the winter cropping season. Consistent with recent patterns, the best of the cropping area rain was across the eastern Darling Downs with lighter falls further west. Dalby and Jondaryan received 20-25mm for the week but totals quickly tapered away further west. McAlister received about 13mm with about 7mm around Tara and Meandarra and less than 4mm around Roma and Surat.
Totals were disappointing around Goondiwindi ranging from 3mm up to an isolated 10mm in some parts.
Heavier falls were received across much of north western NSW with Walgett and Collarenebri received 20-22mm but less than 10mm around Moree and North Star. Most of central western NSW also received a general 15mm to 25mm on the weekend, which will help to put the state on track for a large winter crop harvest.
Southern Queensland crops are struggling with the prolonged dry weather. Areas that enjoyed a favourable start to the season are anxious for rain to maintain yield potential and crops that had a patchy start are struggling.
Southern Queensland buyers are counting down the days until the new crop harvest starts and cheaper grain becomes available.
New crop wheat prices drifted lower last week with the strength in the Australian dollar, but the dry weather is supporting southern Queensland prices. New season barley prices edged higher in NSW and Victoria after a large optional origin purchase by Saudi Arabia, where prices were sharply higher than the previous tender in June.
Global wheat markets continue to find support on lower than expected yields in Russia and slow farmer selling.
The International Grains Council lowered its forecast for global wheat production for the 2020/21 season by 6 million tonnes to 762mt, after reductions in the EU, Russia, United States and Argentina. Australian wheat production was left unchanged at 26.2mt.
Major exporter wheat stocks are forecast to decline by 4mt to 62mt, despite a 2mt reduction in global wheat trade, IGC said.
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