Western Australia is gearing up to plant 8.81 million hectares of winter crops, as per the initial estimate from the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA). This figure, outlined in GIWA’s first crop report for the 2025-26 season, surpasses the 8.6 million hectares forecasted in April of the previous year for the 2024-25 crop.
According to Michael Lamond, the author of the GIWA crop report, recent rainfall events in the southern regions of WA have provided confidence to farmers to commence seeding, with the expectation that emerging crops will withstand any dry spells due to available sub-soil moisture. However, the northern parts of the state are facing dry soil profiles down to 80cm, presenting a different scenario for farmers in that region.
In central areas, rainfall has been inconsistent, leading some growers to sow canola into moisture while others opt for dry seeding in anticipation of substantial rain in the next 10 days. Farmers are approaching this planting season with caution, considering the challenges faced in the previous year. The warm soil temperatures and lack of sub-soil moisture have deterred many from dry seeding, a practice that would typically have commenced by now in previous years.
In the 2024-25 season, WA produced 22.42 million tonnes of crops, marking it as the third-largest yield on record. Wheat cultivation area increased by around 500,000 hectares from the previous year, barley by approximately 400,000 hectares, and canola saw a decrease of 250,000 hectares. The large area of fallow sown to cereals in 2024 will not be available for planting this year, affecting the distribution of the three main crops.
The allocation of land for wheat, barley, and canola will be determined in the coming month. Canola plantings are likely to increase if the current rainfall patterns persist, with total sown area potentially reaching 9 million hectares, similar to the previous year. However, adverse weather conditions in May could result in a reduction to 8.5 million hectares, as seen in 2023.
The demand for Clearfield canola and Hybrid TT seed has risen this year due to the price disparity between GM and non-GM canola varieties. The preference for GM canola has increased significantly, with over 70 percent of deliveries in 2024 coming from GM crops. This trend is driven by pricing discounts, which have influenced growers’ variety selection decisions.
Oat cultivation in WA experienced a substantial increase last year, particularly in non-traditional growing regions. The total oat area expanded by 38 percent from 2023 to 2024, with a higher proportion of oat plantings intended for grain harvest. Strong pricing for milling oats is expected to drive further growth in oat plantings this year.
Lupin cultivation may rise in the northern part of the state if rainfall occurs in the next month. However, limited market opportunities and price sensitivity may restrict significant expansion in lupin cultivation. Pulses, including lentils, field peas, and chickpeas, have garnered interest statewide in recent years, leading to increased plantings in 2025 following successful yields.
For more detailed information on crop conditions in individual WA port zones, refer to the full report on the GIWA website.
