Winter Crop Area in Australia Estimated to Decline by 8 Percent

26-May-2026 04:16 PM

Canberra. Due to mixed weather conditions and high agricultural input costs during the current year, the area under winter crops in Australia is expected to witness a decline. In its latest report, Rabobank estimates that the total area under winter crops in Australia this year will contract to 23.1 million hectares—a figure that is 8 percent lower than the sown area in the 2025-26 season and 4.3 percent below the five-year average. Specifically, a significant decline is projected in the area dedicated to wheat, despite it being the country's primary food grain.

The area under wheat cultivation is estimated to shrink by 20.4 percent compared to last year, settling at 9.8 million hectares—a figure that is also 24 percent lower than the five-year average.

Conversely, an overall increase is anticipated in the sown area for canola, pulses, and barley, as these commodities have yielded higher returns for farmers compared to wheat. Global market prices for wheat have remained relatively soft.

In the state of Western Australia, the area under winter crops is projected to expand by 5.7 percent, reaching 9.47 million hectares; however, in Queensland, the area is expected to plummet by 34.8 percent to 1.06 million hectares, while in New South Wales,

it is likely to contract by 29.2 percent to 4.82 million hectares. The area under cultivation in South Australia and Victoria is expected to remain stable.