Wheat yield in Australia FY 2010-2021

Wheat is one of the most important crops produced in Australia. In 2020, the yield of this winter crop was estimated at 1.5 metric ton per hectare, the lowest yield in almost a decade. According to the same source, the yield was projected to increase in 2021.

The role of wheat

Wheat is grown primarily in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. Production of wheat in the country has fallen in recent years. Both bread wheat and durum wheat are used to produce wheat-based food consumed within the country. Wheat was Australia’s third largest agriculture export commodity in 2019, and one of the highest value crops. Most of the wheat produced in Australia was exported to countries within Asia and the Middle East.

Challenges to growth

Drought has impacted grain production across the country. The area of land for wheat production has decreased over the past decade, however a slight increase was expected for 2021. In 2019, the country imported wheat for the domestic market for the first time in 12 years. This raised biosecurity concerns among grain growers, who were worried about the potential for new weeds or diseases being introduced. However, a shortfall in high-protein wheat can negatively impact domestic dairy farmers, who require bulk grain for their livestock.