Production of wheat, chickpeas and barley is also forecast to hit record levels.

The report is a 14% upward revision from the forecast ABARES published in the September crop report.

Acting ABARES executive director Peter Gooday said above average rainfall in September, followed by mild spring conditions, had ensured good soil moisture for the critical grain development period. 

“Wheat production in 2016–17 is forecast to rise by 35% to a record high of 32.6Mt,” Gooday said.

“At the same time, barley production is forecast to rise by 24% to a record high of 10.6Mt, and canola production is forecast to rise by 22% to 3.6Mt—which would be the third-highest on record.

“Chickpea production is also forecast to reach a record high of 1.2Mt this year—a rise of 21% that reflects an estimated increase in planted area and a forecast rise in the average yield.”

Some cropping regions had been hard hit by seasonal conditions this year, but Gooday said total production was forecast to be higher in every state.

The total summer crop production is also forecast to increase by 21% to around 4.6Mt in 2016–17, with the total area planted forecast to increase by 15% to around 1.4 million hectares.

“Among leading summer crops, cotton production is forecast to increase by 64% in 2016–17 to around 1Mt of cotton lint and around 1.5Mt of cottonseed.

“The area planted to rice is forecast to increase almost fourfold in 2016–17 to 90 000 hectares in response to an increase in the supply of irrigation water available to rice growers.

“However the area planted to grain sorghum is forecast to fall by 31% in 2016–17 to 471 000 hectares, the lowest in 24 years.”