Grains Council raises wheat figures – HGCA

IN its latest monthly report, the International Grains Council raised its estimate of 2001/02 world wheat
production by 4m tonnes from last month, to 579m.

The revisions are due to higher production in Argentina, Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine, offsetting lower production in the EU, USA and North Africa. Only minor revisions were made for 2000/01.

EARLY indications for 2001/02, suggest Canadas total wheat area could fall 1% to 11m hectares, according to the Statistics Canada planting intentions survey.

Although the spring wheat area is expected 4% up to 8.46m ha, an 18% expected cut in the durum wheat area lies behind the decline.

The total barley area could rise 2% to 5.2m ha. The preliminary results are based on the March intentions survey, reflecting seeding intentions for the coming crop year.