ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA — South Australia’s 2022-23 grain crop production estimate is the highest on record at 12.788 million tonnes, 51% higher than last year and 71% above the five-year average, according to the Crop and Pasture Report from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

Production is estimated for wheat at 7.33 million tonnes, barley at 3.08 million, canola at 684,000 tonnes and oats at 230,950. 

Despite weather challenges that included heavy rains and flooding that delayed seeding at the start and slowed harvest, total final production exceeded the previous high mark of 11.1 million tonnes in 2016-17.

“The record production at high global prices, even with some weather damage downgrading, has an estimated farm gate value of A$4.6 billion, also well above the 2021-22 record high farm gate value (A$3.3 billion),” the report noted.

South Australia farmers sowed 3.942 million hectares of grain in 2022-23, the same as the previous year, though slightly less than the 4 million hectares in 2020-21. The average yield was 3.25 tonnes/hectare. Canola hectares increased in response to higher prices, cutting into barley area.