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19 May 2016
The full report is available from http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares
Summary of key issues
Little to no rainfall was recorded across most of mainland Australia during the week ending 18 May 2016.
For the week ending 17 May 2016, maximum temperatures were above average across most of western, central and eastern Australia. Minimum temperatures were above average in northern and south-eastern Australia, and below average in south-western, central and eastern Australia.
The forecast for the next eight days indicates that rainfall is likely in all states and territories.
Rainfall totals exceeding 15 millimetres are predicted for south-western Western Australia, around the Gulf of Carpentaria, southern Victoria, parts of the Northern Territory and most of Tasmania.
Water storage levels in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 140 gigalitres (GL) during the week ending 19 May 2016 to 6 901 GL and are at 30 per cent of total capacity.
The New South Wales young cattle indicator price (330–400 kg live weight C3) averaged 596 cents a kilogram for the week ending 13 May 2016, 2 per cent higher than the previous week. Over the same period, the young cattle price increased by 4 per cent in Victoria to average 587 cents a kilogram. Meanwhile, in Queensland the young cattle indicator price averaged 550 cents a kilogram for the week ending 13 May 2016.
The Victorian lamb indicator price (18–22kg fat score 2–4) averaged 567 cents a kilogram (dressed weight) in the week ending 13 May 2016, 5 per cent higher than the previous week.
Over the same period, the saleyard price of lamb increased by 8 per cent in New South Wales to 558 cents per kilogram. In contrast, the saleyard price of lamb fell by 1 per cent in South
Australia and Western Australia to average 494 and 484 cents per kilogram, respectively.
The world wheat indicator price (US No. 2 hard red winter, free on board Gulf ports) was
US$193 a tonne in the week ending 17 May 2016, compared with US$192 a tonne in the
previous week.
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1. Climate
1.1. Rainfall this week
Little to no rainfall was recorded across most of mainland Australia for the week ending 18 May 2016. Rainfall totals between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded in the north-eastern Top End, the north-eastern coast of Queensland, south-eastern New South Wales, southern Victoria, south-western Western Australia and in most of Tasmania. The highest recorded weekly total was 366 millimetres at Mount Read in western Tasmania.
The rainfall analyses and associated maps utilise data contained in the Bureau of Meteorology climate database, the Australian Data Archive for Meteorology (ADAM). The analyses are initially produced automatically from real-time data with limited quality control. They are intended to provide a general overview of rainfall across Australia as quickly as possible after the observations are received.
For further information go to http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/rainfall/
Rainfall for the week ending 18 May 2016
©Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Issued: 18/05/2016
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1.2. Temperature anomalies this week
For the week ending 17 May 2016, maximum temperatures were above average across most of western, central and eastern Australia, and generally average across much of northern Australia. Maximum
temperatures were between 4 °C and 6 °C above average in parts of central Western Australia, and isolated areas of central Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria.
For the week ending 17 May 2016, minimum temperatures were above average in northern and south-eastern Australia, and below average in south-western, central and eastern Australia. Parts of Western Australia, central Queensland, and the Northern Territory recorded minimum temperatures between 2 °C and 4 °C below average.
Spatial temperature analyses are based on historical weekly temperature data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology. These temperature anomaly maps show the departure of the maximum and the minimum from the average over the 1961 to 1990 reference period. Temperature anomalies are calculated using high resolution gridded datasets from 1911 onwards. For further information go to
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp
Maximum temperature anomalies for the week ending 17 May 2016
©Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Issued: 18/05/2016 Minimum temperature anomalies for the week ending 17 May 2016
©Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Issued: 18/05/2016
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1.3. Rainfall forecast
The forecast for the next eight days indicates that rainfall is likely in all states and territories. Rainfall totals exceeding 15 millimetres are predicted for south-western Western Australia, around the Gulf of Carpentaria, southern Victoria, parts of the Northern Territory and most of Tasmania.
This rainfall forecast is produced from computer models. As it contains no input from weather forecasters, it is important to check local forecasts and warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Total forecast rainfall (mm) for the period 19 May to 26 May 2016
©Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Issued: 19/05/2016
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2. Water
2.1. Water availability
Water storage levels in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 140 gigalitres (GL) during the week ending 19 May 2016 to 6 901 GL, and are at 30 per cent of total capacity. This is 9 percentage points or 1 939 GL less than at the same time last year.
Water storages in the Murray–Darling Basin (NSW, Victoria and Queensland)
Information on irrigation water available in the Murray–Darling Basin from 1 January 2001 to 19 May 2016 is shown above.
The top horizontal (short dash) line indicates the storage level at the similar time last year. The bottom horizontal (long dash) line indicates the amount of ‘dead’ or unusable storage.
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3. Commodities
3.1. Production and commodities
The world wheat indicator price (US No. 2 hard red winter, free on board Gulf ports) was US$193 a tonne in the week ending 17 May 2016, compared with US$192 a tonne in the previous week.
The world coarse grains indicator price (US No. 2 yellow corn, free on board Gulf ports) was US$172 a tonne in the week ending 18 May 2016, compared with US$165 a tonne in the previous week.
The world canola indicator price (Rapeseed, Europe, free on board Hamburg) was US$424 a tonne in the week ending 17 May 2016, compared with US$420 a tonne in the previous week.
The world cotton indicator price (the Cotlook ‘A’ index) averaged around US69.2 cents a pound in the week ending 18 May 2016, compared with US69.7 cents a pound in the previous week.
The world sugar indicator price (Intercontinental Exchange, nearby futures, no. 11 contract) averaged US16.9 cents a pound in the week ending 18 May 2016, 5 per cent higher than the previous week.
The Australian feed wheat indicator price (General purpose, Sydney) was $265 a tonne in the week ending 18 May 2016, 1 per cent higher than the previous week.
The Australian feed barley indicator price (Sydney) was $227 a tonne in the week ending 18 May 2016, largely unchanged from the previous week.
The Australian grain sorghum indicator price (Sydney) was $249 a tonne in the week ending 18 May 2016, 2 per cent higher than the previous week.
The Australian canola indicator price (Portland, Victoria) was $520 a tonne in the week ending 16 May 2016, 1 per cent higher than the previous week.
The New South Wales young cattle indicator price (330–400 kg live weight C3) averaged 596 cents a kilogram for the week ending 13 May 2016, 2 per cent higher than the previous week. Over the same period, the young cattle price increased by 4 per cent in Victoria to average 587 cents a kilogram.Meanwhile, in Queensland the young cattle indicator price averaged 550 cents a kilogram for the week ending 13 May 2016.
The Victorian lamb indicator price (18–22kg fat score 2–4) averaged 567 cents a kilogram (dressed weight) in the week ending 13 May 2016, 5 per cent higher than the previous week. Over the same period, the saleyard price of lamb increased by 8 per cent in New South Wales to 558 cents per kilogram. In contrast, the saleyard price of lamb fell by 1 per cent in South Australia and Western Australia to average 494 and 484 cents per kilogram, respectively.
The Australian Eastern Market indicator price for wool averaged 1 287 cents a kilogram clean in the week ending 12 May 2016, up 2 per cent from the previous week. The total number of bales offered at auction was down 4 per cent on the previous week.
The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) weighted average price of anhydrous milk fat rose by 5 per cent to US$3 340 a tonne on 17 May 2016 compared with US$3 195 a tonne on 3 May 2016. Over the same period, the whole milk powder price rose 3 per cent, and the skim milk powder and cheddar cheese prices both fell by 1 per cent.
Wholesale prices of selected fruit were mixed in the week ending 14 May 2016, compared with the previous week. Prices of banana (cavendish) and strawberry rose, while prices for watermelon (seedless), kiwifruit (hayward) and avocado (hass) fell. Prices were largely unchanged for pineapple (smoothleaf), blueberry and apple (royal gala).
Wholesale prices of selected vegetable were mostly lower in the week ending 14 May 2016, compared with the previous week. Prices of bean (round, stringless) rose, while prices for cauliflower, tomato (field gourmet), broccoli and lettuce (iceberg) fell. Prices were largely unchanged for onion (brown), potato (white, brushed) and pumpkin (grey bulk).7
3.2. Selected world indicator prices
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3.3. Global Dairy Trade (GDT) weighted average prices
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3.4. Selected domestic crop indicator prices
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3.5. Selected domestic livestock indicator prices
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3.6. Movements in selected fruit and vegetable prices
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4. Data attribution
Climate
Bureau of Meteorology
Weekly rainfall totals: www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/rain/index.jsp
Monthly and last 3-months rainfall percentiles: www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/rain/index.jsp
Temperature anomalies: www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp
Rainfall forecast: www.bom.gov.au/jsp/watl/rainfall/pme.jsp
Seasonal outlook: www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead
Drought statement: www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/drought.shtml
Soil moisture: Bureau of Meteorology (Australian Water Resources Assessment Landscape model) www.bom.gov.au/water/landscape/
Water
New South Wales
New South Wales Water Information: http://waterinfo.nsw.gov.au/
New South Wales Office of Water, Department of Primary Industries: www.water.nsw.gov.au/Home/default.aspx Available water determinations register:
http://registers.water.nsw.gov.au/wma/DeterminationSearch.jsp?selectedRegister=Determination Queensland
Sunwater: www.sunwater.com.au
Seqwater: http://seqwater.com.au South Australia
SA Water: https://www.sawater.com.au/community-and-environment/the-river-murray/river-reports/daily-flow- report
South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au Victoria
Goulburn–Murray Water: www.g-mwater.com.au Commodities
Fruit and vegetables
Datafresh: http://www.freshstate.com.au Mutton, lambs, wheat, barley and grain sorghum
The Land: hardcopy or online at http://theland.farmonline.com.au/markets Cattle, mutton, lambs and pigs
Meat and Livestock Australia: http://www.mla.com.au/Prices-and-markets Pigs
Australian Pork: www.australianpork.com.au Canola
Weekly Times: hardcopy Dairy
Global Dairy Trade: http://www.globaldairytrade.info/en/product-results/download-historical-data/
