Agriculture and trade in disrupted economies
EFIC Case study - http://www.efic.gov.au/news-events/case-studies/agriculture-forestry-fishing/agri-direct/
Australian crop condition at this time of year is usually favourable, and there is no exception for this year. Farmers in central Queensland (Emerald) areas will be looking at picking their crops towards the mid to end of February.
Planting for the 2015 Australian crop is 95% completed. Many of you already may know, severe draught has limited the number of acreage to half of previous years. We are expecting approx. 1.7m bales in 2015 (3.8m bales in 2014). There is no option to increase the planting areas anymore. On the positive side, during the draught years the quality Australian cotton is of the highest grade. About 40-50% of the 2015 crop has been committed to the merchants.
There were record 1800 people attended this years conference. Australan cotton industry was hit with some quality concerns and drought is causing 50% reduction for next year crop. Despite all the challenges, majority of all Australian growers attending the conference shows how resilient and dynamic our Australian cotton industry is.
First of all I would like to remind you all about the Australian Cotton conference from 5th-7th August in Gold Coast, Australia. Please let me know if you are deciding to attend the conference.