Major grain loss expected as farmers wait for rain

Monday, August 13, 2007

Concern for the nation's grain crops is on the rise, with regions across the north and west of the country desperately in need of rain.

As the drought in Western Australia continues to take hold, large parts of northern New South Wales and Queensland are getting drier by the day, with predictions that millions of tonnes would be wiped off the national wheat harvest.

Grains analyst Lloyd George says frost and a lack of rain is putting a large proportion of crops in danger.

"There was always a bunch of risk in this just because of how dry the sub-soil was," he said.

"It's essentially been around about 45 days plus since northern New South Wales [or] Queensland has really had any rain of significance.

"Without rain in the next two to three weeks up there, we're really talking significant yield losses."

Sourced from ABC.