A new report by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics has put hard numbers on the impact of the severe dry on crops to be harvested over coming months. The figures for crops in the eastern states, particularly in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria are striking, with NSW winter crop production tipped to slump a massive 46 per cent compared to last year.

The forecast NSW total winter crop for 2018-19, at 3.89 million tonnes, is barely 26% of the size of the massive 14.78 million tonne crop produced by the state in 2010-11. The "winter crop" includes major broadacre farm crops like wheat, barley, canola and oats. Winter crop production in Queensland (tipped to fall 38%) and Victoria (down 29%) are also expected to fall dramatically this season.

Full story from Darren Gray coming soon.