Queensland & northern NSW rains change grain outlook

摘要

THERE was heavy rain in December for the cropping areas north of Coonamble, New South Wales. But there was then a long gap through to mid January. During this period temperatures were very high. Newly sown sorghum crops suffered and growers were put off seeding any further sorghum in NSW and southern Queensland. NSW growers have probably only sown 115,000 hectares which is not much more than half the normal sorghum sowings. Southern Queensland appears to have sown a maximum of 180,000ha against the 365,000ha sown for the 2001-02 crop. After mid January there were two more heavy rains in both regions - enough to wet the subsoil, and to cause flooding of the river systems.