ABARES tips higher winegrape production

Australian winegrape production is forecast to increase by 5 per cent to 1.61 million tonnes in 2012–13, assuming favourable seasonal conditions and a return to more average yields. According to Australian Wine Grape Production Projections, released by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) today, production is projected to increase further in 2013-14 to 1.63 million tonnes. ABARES executive director, Paul Morris, said if these increases are realised they would represent some improvement on the less than ideal growing conditions experienced by growers in 2011-12, reports the Stock Journal.