Saturday 29 September 2012
Australia
Having a go at grain market manipulation
The Weather Bureau has confirmed that a dry spring is likely for south-eastern Australia.
It's released its October to December climate outlook.
Head of climate prediction Andrew Watkins says drier conditions are likely for the south-east.
"Drier than normal conditions through Victoria, south eastern Australia and also Tasmania," he said.
"Elsewhere, the odds are a bit closer to normal, except in far western Queensland, where there are slightly enhanced odds of getting above normal rainfall.
"Also through parts of inland Western Australia, where again the odds are slightly higher of getting above normal rainfall."
Dry weather across the country will reduce winter crop yields even further, according to Australian Crop Forecasters.
The organisation's Rory O'Sullivan says most growing regions are in desperate need of rain.
He says wheat yields are reducing daily because of dry weather, particularly in the south.
"In that western corridor of the Victorian Mallee, that's gone; it's facing very bad yield declines," he said.
"The latest wheat forecast for the whole country is between 20-22 million tonnes; in two weeks' time, it could be looking more like 21 million tonnes."
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.
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