Hats off to Australian farmers, advisers and scientists; a gold star national performance!

More recent national analyses, undertaken for AEGIC by agrometeorologist Dr David Stephens, reveals further evidence, this time for national celebration – not just for WA. It’s hats off to Australian farmers, advisers and scientists. The analyses reveal remarkable growth in the water use efficiency that underpins Australian wheat production.

​Chart 1: Water Use Efficiency of wheat production in Australia. Source: Agrometeorology Australia

Enhanced WUE is a key reason for Australia’s increasing wheat yields (Chart 2).

Chart 2: Trends in wheat yields across Australia: 2004 to 2020 (kg/ha/yr)

Since the late 2000s remarkable increases in the trend of wheat yields have occurred in southern Australia, especially in parts of South Australia and Victoria, and in many parts of New South Wales.

Although some statistical sub-divisions in WA display yield trends over the period 2004 to 2020 less than those recorded in parts of other States, nonetheless wheat production in WA is remarkably reliable (Chart 3). By contrast, marked volatility in wheat yields characterises wheat production in many statistical sub-divisions in New South Wales and Victoria.

Chart 3: Variability of wheat yields across Australia: 2000 to 2020 (Coefficient of variation of wheat yields as a %)

All these metrics ― improved water use efficiency, upward yield trajectories and reliable wheat production (especially in WA) are sound reasons for celebration by the Australian grains industry, noting that wheat is by far the main grain grown and exported in Australia.

Banner image: October 2022 – Bordertown grower Gary Virgin in the rain giving an update on the 2022 season for AEGIC’s virtual crop inspection series.