Crop exports to wilt as autumn rains fail over much of Australia

Australia’s third-driest May on record has compounded the misery facing many of the nation’s farmers, with the window for winter plantings closing fast.

• Peter Hannam
• The Canberra Times

Projections by Rabobank released on Friday indicate 21.6 million hectares of winter crop will be planted this year. While down 2 per cent on the previous year, the drop in Queensland and NSW will be much more severe at 11 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

Rainfall last month was down 83 per cent on an area-average basis in Queensland compared with long-run averages, and 75 per cent for NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology…

The so-called autumn break of 25-30 millimetres of timely rain that farmers in southern Australia often bank on was…

• Crop exports to…