ABARE executive director Phillip Glyde released a report today stating that the area sown to winter crops in Australia is forecast to be 21.9 million hectares in 2009-10, an increase of 1 per cent from the previous season.

"Rainfall in late May and early June was timely for those winter crops that had already been sown and provided an opportunity for remaining planting intentions to be realised," Mr Glyde said.

Assuming average yields, winter crop production is forecast to be around 34.8 million tonnes in 2009-10, around 1.6 million tonnes more than the previous season's harvest.

In developing these forecasts, ABARE says a moving average yield was used that takes into account productivity improvements, farmers’ adaptation to changing climatic conditions, and recent trends and variations in rainfall and temperature.

"The amount and timing of rainfall during the rest of the season will critically affect the extent to which these production outcomes are achieved," Mr Glyde said.

The area planted to wheat in 2009-10 is forecast to remain above 13 million hectares for the second consecutive year.

Total wheat production is forecast to be around 22 million tonnes in 2009-10 compared to 21.4 million tonnes harvested in 2008-09.

The area sown to barley is forecast to decline by around 1 per cent, but production is forecast to increase by 13 per cent to 7.7 million tonnes in 2009-10, assuming average yields.

The area planted to canola is forecast to increase in 2009-10.

However, as yields are expected to decline from last season, particularly in Western Australia, production is forecast to decline by around 9 per cent in 2009-10.

Mr Glyde noted that total summer crop production in 2008-09 is estimated at 3.5 million tonnes, 11 per cent lower than the record achieved in 2007-08.

"Grain sorghum yields were above average for a second consecutive year, but did not match the 2007-08 record," he said.

"Grain sorghum production is estimated to have been 2.3 million tonnes in 2008-09, compared with 3.1 million tonnes harvested in the previous year."

Rice and cotton production were more than double the previous year’s production, but well below historical averages.