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Citrus crop slides as drought bites
Australia
Thursday 28 February 2008
Dry conditions continue to wreak havoc on the citrus growing community in Australia.
The 2008/09 Australian citrus crop looks set to fall to levels not seen since the 1980s as an ongoing drought takes its toll on key growing regions, according to Australian Citrus Growers (ACG).
Preliminary estimates put national output at 500,000 tons, down 12 per cent on last season's light crop and 32 per cent lower than 2006/07, due to a projected 25 per cent decline in volumes from the drought-hit Sunraysia and Riverland areas.
While a drop in exports looks certain, ACG's Judith Damiani said the navel crop is showing good fruit size and skin quality and that the industry is hopeful of achieving higher packouts and targeted supply to high-value markets.
Water prices have plummeted from recent record highs. Water allocations are currently 32 per cent in South Australia and 42-50 per cent in the Sunraysia, but will most likely start at 0 per cent when the new irrigation season begins on 1 July and be raised according to in-flows. Ms Damiani noted that the La Niña effect, heavy rain in Queensland and some early forecasts of a 50 per cent allocation for southern irrigators have raised hopes the crop will be "seen through".
The 2008/09 Australian citrus crop looks set to fall to levels not seen since the 1980s as an ongoing drought takes its toll on key growing regions, according to Australian Citrus Growers (ACG).
Preliminary estimates put national output at 500,000 tons, down 12 per cent on last season's light crop and 32 per cent lower than 2006/07, due to a projected 25 per cent decline in volumes from the drought-hit Sunraysia and Riverland areas.
While a drop in exports looks certain, ACG's Judith Damiani said the navel crop is showing good fruit size and skin quality and that the industry is hopeful of achieving higher packouts and targeted supply to high-value markets.
Water prices have plummeted from recent record highs. Water allocations are currently 32 per cent in South Australia and 42-50 per cent in the Sunraysia, but will most likely start at 0 per cent when the new irrigation season begins on 1 July and be raised according to in-flows. Ms Damiani noted that the La Niña effect, heavy rain in Queensland and some early forecasts of a 50 per cent allocation for southern irrigators have raised hopes the crop will be "seen through".
