Mixed Weather Assailed Aussie Pulses

VANCOUVER - Dec 15/08 - SNS -- The prospective size of this season's Australian pulse harvest managed to improve during the past month despite challenging weather conditions in many parts of the country, according to Pulse Australia's latest review of crop and yield conditions in the country.

Production of the major classes of pulses is now expected to total 1.282 million metric tons (MT), up 4% from the October forecast. The increase came from better than expected yields in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia; while total pulse output in Victoria and South Australia was left unchanged from the previous crop report.

New South Wales has emerged as the most important producing state, with total pulse output forecast at 388,700 MT; compared to 387,600 MT in Western Australia, 277,000 in South Australia; 115,700 in Queensland; and 112,500 MT in Victoria. For many years the state of Western Australia was the most important pulse producing region in Australia because of extensive interest in growing lupins.

Commenting on general conditions, Pulse Australia said, "Little rain fell in the three months of spring, September to November, across most of South Australia and Victoria (decile 1 or lowest on record). Rainfall in late November was too late and only delayed harvest, particularly in N-E Victoria and S-E southern New South Wales. Impact on grain quality has been minimal at this stage.

"Soil types, farming practice, time of sowing and patchiness of rain all have influenced the crop condition. Some pulses have yielded well, with others not being harvestable," the industry group said.