USDA attache projects Australia 2026/27 wheat crop at 29 million T

April 28 (Reuters) - A report released on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's attache in Australia projected the country's 2026/27 wheat harvest at 29 million metric tons, down 19% from the prior year.

• The report, issued by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service post in Canberra, cited expectations of a smaller harvested area and a return to near-average wheat yields after relatively high yields in 2025/26.

• "While the season has begun favorably in most key regions, uncertainty around in-season rainfall and the potential development of El Niño conditions present downside risks," the report said.

• The report projected Australia's 2026/27 wheat exports at 23.5 million tons, down from 26 million in 2025/26, primarily due to lower production.

• The report noted rising farm input costs due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. "Diesel and nitrogenous fertilizer prices have approximately doubled in the lead-up to planting," the report said.

• However, the report said, "seasonal conditions remain the dominant factor influencing planting decisions and production outcomes."

• Attache reports are not official USDA data. The USDA is scheduled to release updated official world crop production estimates for the 2025/26 marketing year, as well as its first official forecasts for 2026/27, in a monthly report on May 12.

• To read the attache's full report, click: https://tinyurl.com/ypd6pnpz