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48 FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | THE WESTERN PRODUCERNEWSGRAIN | PRODUCTIONForecast for Australian wheat improves slightlyUpdated projections | Crops escape damage from floods and heat, although protein levels disappointSYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) —Australia has raised its productionestimate for the current marketingyear by a fraction from its Decemberestimate.The crop largely escaped damagefrom a heat wave and floods thissummer.The Australian Bureau of Agricultureand Resource Economics andSciences (ABARES) forecast wheatproduction of 22.077 million tonnesfor the marketing year ending inAugust, up .2 percent from itsDecember estimate of 22.035 milliontonnes.The broadly unchanged forecastwill be welcomed after the U.S.Department of Agriculture surprisedthe market by cutting it forecast forThank you to everyone who attendedPULSE DAYS 2013On behalf of Saskatchewan PulseGrowers, we appreciate your continuedsupport.U.S. wheat stocks, adding to worriesabout a global shortage.The stockpile of U.S. wheat at theend of the marketing year May 31 willshrink to 691 million bushels, thesmallest in four years and down fromits previous forecast for 716 millionbu., the USDA said.Australia’s wheat crop enjoyedfavourable weather toward the endof the growing cycle, but the government’scommodity forecastersaid protein levels across the country’seast coast were lower thanaverage.“We weren’t expecting them tochange the wheat number toomuch,” said Luke Mathews, commoditiesstrategist at the CommonwealthBank of Australia.Wheat in Australia is planted startingin late April and harvested by theend of December.Spring rain helped Australia’s wintercrops, ABARES said.The commodities forecaster raisedits 2012-13 canola estimate by 17percent on better-than-expectedyields and a larger planted area.Canola production was put at 3.089million tonnes, up from a Decemberestimate of 2.636 million tonnes.“We always knew canola acreagewas very strong, and we had beenhearing anecdotal reports of betterthan-expectedyields,” Mathews said.More canola was planted in NewSouth Wales and Western Australiathan was previously expected, whilefavourable crop weather across Australia’swest coast boosted yields,ABARES said.The forecaster also noted theimpact of the heat wave that scorchedAustralia in January.While maintaining its forecast forcotton production at 945,000 tonnes,ABARES said summer crop productionwould fall 13 percent to approximately4.8 million tonnes as a resultof the record heat in January. Theheat has sapped soil moisture vitalfor germination and establishingnewly seeded crops.PLATINUM SPONSORSLUNCH SPONSORUSB SPONSORAC®CarberryCWRS WheatOPENING RECEPTION SPONSORSESSION SPONSORSTRANSPORTATION SPONSORREFRESHMENTS BREAKS SPONSORSetting the pace.Start strong. Finish fast.✔ Very short, strong straw✔ Fast, efficient harvest✔ MR to fusarium✔ Great fit for intensive managementSTATIONARY SPONSORMEDIA SPONSORFINANCIAL AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORSWe look forward to seeing you next year for an exciting new event,CropSphere 2014, January 14 & 15 at TCU in Saskatoon.Visit www.saskpulse.com for more details.Developed by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current.‘AC’ is an official mark used under license from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.Genes that fit your farm® is a registered trademark of SeCan.Genes that fit your farm. ®800-665-7333www.secan.com