AWB Again Cuts Australia Wheat Crop

[AngryAmish]

"AWB Ltd. has become the latest to further reduce expectations for the Australian wheat crop. The group now puts the 2006-07 Australian crop at 9 million metric tons (MMT) to 11 MMT, down from their prior peg of 12 MMT to 15 MMT made just last month.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) is also now going to put out a crop update this week, due on Oct. 27. They had previously scheduled their next crop update for December, but have since opted to update things due to the deterioration in conditions since their last peg of 16.4 MMT.

The crop situation in Australia has also fostered talk of low-quality wheat or feed grain imports by Australia.

USDA in its Oct. Supply/Demand Report put the Australian wheat crop at 11 MMT"

Someone told me a few weeks ago that the Australian wheat crop is failing. It has sent the commodity markets into a tizzy.

Why is it failing? El Nino? Rabid kangaroos?

[brokensymmetry]

1. Massive drought, as I recall.

Some suggest its due to climate change. Personally,
I suspect that's the answer.

[lapfog_1]

2. Long term drought... I believe. Probably as a result of climate change.

[flyingfysh]

3. drought caused by global warming?

Maybe this is what is hitting Australian farmers?

[kestrel91316]

4. Crops require this stuff called water in order to grow.

Australia seems to be in rather short supply of it the last few years. Funny, that, in a country that's mostly DESERT.

[Parche]

5. awb

I used to do their travel, they were fantastic to work with, I always loved their accents!!!!!

[Algorem]

8. if you "cut the wheat" you "cut the cake",of course.

they'll have work to do to pick up the pieces.

[Bear down under]

6. The worst drought on record

and with an El Nino developing, it's not going to break soon.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

7. Maybe there should be an

OZ/NZ forum here. This stuff will affect us all.