Wheat crops ‘in better condition’

WHEAT crops in Australia, the world’s sixth-largest exporter of the grain, are in a better condition than a year earlier because of winter rains, the nation’s largest wheat shipper said.

“There’s been slightly better winter rainfall in most areas than there was last year,” Gordon Davis, managing director of AWB Ltd, said.

“It’s early days but I think everyone is hopeful that we’ll certainly see a vastly better wheat crop than last year.”

Wheat prices rose to a record in February, as Australia’s worst drought slashed output.

Weather conducive to the spread of potato blight will occur on Monday, mainly in Connacht and Ulster. There will be opportunities for spraying tomorrow.