Grains

Northern cropping region

The northern region takes in central and southern Queensland through to northern New South Wales down as far as the Dubbo region. Most rainfall in this northern region tends to be over the summer months, allowing for dryland summer crop production. But with the high moisture-storing capacity of the clay-based soils of this region, supplemented by some winter rainfall, crops that grow during the winter are also successfully produced.

Winter crops in the northern region are planted across a wide time period starting during March in the Queensland Central zone, through to July in the New South Wales Central zone. Consequently, harvest of the northern region’s winter crops can stretch from September through to December. Similarly, the north’s summer crops are planted from September through to February with harvest spanning the February to May period.

Grain crops grown in the northern region

Winter crops – wheat, barley, oats, chickpeas, triticale, faba beans, lupins, field peas, canola, millet/panicum, safflower and linseed. Summer crops – sorghum, sunflowers, maize, mungbeans, soybeans, cotton and peanuts.

Southern cropping region

The southern region stretches from central New South Wales (south of Dubbo) through to Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. The rainfall pattern ranges from uniform in central New South Wales through to winter-dominant in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

This is a large region of the country with a typically Mediterranean climate of dry summers and comparatively reliable winter rainfall lending itself to winter crop production. Summer crop production requires irrigation and the major field crop irrigated in this region is medium grain rice in southern New South Wales.

Planting of the winter crop depends on ‘opening rains’ and usually begins in May and can continue through until late July. The winter crop harvest can begin in late October and continue through until January in the higher rainfall areas.

Grain crops grown in the southern region

Winter crops – wheat, barley, oats, lupins, field peas, canola, chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, vetch, triticale, cereal rye, and safflower. Summer crops – irrigated rice and maize

Western cropping region

The western region comprises the south west corner of Western Australia, from north of Geraldton, to Albany in the south, and to the areas east of Esperance.

Soil fertility is generally low and yields are dependant on winter and spring rainfall. While yields are low, the large scale of farming operations means that Western Australia is usually the largest grain producing state in Australia.

Planting usually begins in April/May. The winter crop harvest can begin in late October and continue through until January in the higher rainfall areas.

Grain crops grown in the western region

Winter crops – wheat, barley, oats, canola, lentils, lupins, field peas, chickpeas, faba beans, triticale, cereal rye