The frantic activity is taking place in the Narrabri-Moree area of New South Wales, the eastern state that normally accounts for 30% of Australia’s wheat crop. Seven years of severe drought preceded the soaking rain.
Elsewhere in the state and around Australia –the world’s second-biggest wheat exporter – conditions remain dry and financially strained farmers are anxiously awaiting rain.
Australia caused some concern in global food markets on Tuesday by cutting its official wheat output forecast by nearly 9%. Western Australia, which normally supplies about 40% of the country’s wheat, was best placed of the cropping states, thanks to good early rain.
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