Grain Industry

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:27): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house about the impact of weather conditions on the state's vital grain industry?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:27): Yes, I certainly can, sir, and—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —I thank the member for Narungga for his very important question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Those on the other side might laugh and scoff, but it is the largest economy in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: The member for Narungga is a proud representative—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —and a new MP to one of the anchor points in the grain industry over on Yorke Peninsula, and it's great to see his interest. But what I can say is that, yes, South Australia is in a very dry period at the moment, as is the majority of the eastern seaboard of Australia. Here in South Australia there is hope. We do have some coastal areas that have some hope, but what I can say is that the crop has been forecast down by about a million tonnes. The optimism was that the planting area is up about 200,000 hectares. That is a significant vote of confidence coming into the season, but the crop tonnage is down by about a million tonnes, so that 10-year average period.

It is also important to note that rainfall is below average, and so it's having mixed results around South Australia. It is met with some concern. We have had weather conditions since the beginning of the year that have not been conducive to grain growing. We have seen very limited subsoil moisture. What that means is that planting was somewhat delayed, but I think the grain growers, the primary producers in South Australia, are eternal optimists. What they have shown is that they have confidence in what they do, and they are prepared to stand tall.

That crop here in South Australia has usually, historically, been underpinned by wheat. This year, we have seen a decline in the planting of wheat and we have seen an increase in barley planting, up by about 14 per cent. It is also important to note that, coming into the early planting stages of the season, which are normally dominated by canola, what that is showing is that we've seen a decline in canola and pulses due to not only the reduced subsoil but it's also a response to India imposing high tariffs on those pulse crops, and on particularly canola, that has impacted here in South Australia.

It is also important to note that, with all our grain-growing regions, we've had very much varied results. What I can say is that the north and the far north pastoral country is looking very dry, very, very dusty, and the weather has not been kind. We have seen significant wind events, and those wind events have been exacerbated by a series followed up with frost. That has impacted not only on the early germination, but those early crops have been really knocked about with severe weather.

Again, the feed and pasture country, particularly in the northern pasture of the state, is in serious trouble. We are seeing very much limited feed and pasture on the ground. South Australia stood tall when the eastern seaboard was in drought. We had two years stockpiled—the majority was hay, and some feed grain—and we sent a lot of that to the eastern seaboard to help them, to support their industry and to support them, who were going through what almost seems like around about three years of drought. We see, over in the eastern seaboard, the support that the South Australian farmers have given them.

What I can say is that South Australian farmers are now looking for feed. They are now looking for hay and feed grain to support their own industry, and they are looking far and wide. It is really important to note that here in South Australia, experiencing those hardships, PIRSA are now holding workshops called 'Farmer's catch-up in hard times'. There are a number of workshops that will be undertaken on Eyre Peninsula, and those workshops, should we see the continual dry, will spread further across South Australia. As we say, we are all looking to the skies for rain. It's critically important that our grain-growing sector get that rain and progress an average crop. So don't forget, hashtag #RegionsMatter.