[Greens-Media] Greens: ABARE report too optimistic

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens: ABARE report too optimistic

Tuesday 18th September 2007

ABARE is sending the wrong message to farmers and the Australian
community with its far too optimistic crop forecasts, the Australian
Greens claimed today.

"We are heavily critical of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and
Resource Economics approach, because we believe it is highly unlikely
that the forecast for wheat of 15.5 million tonnes will be achieved,"
said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"We are now more than half way through September and would need
significant rain before the end of the month to turn the season around,"
she said.

"Last year's September Crop forecast was 16.4 million tonnes compared to
an actual outcome of 9.8 million. With the weather forecast for rain not
looking promising, it is unlikely crops yields will be anything like
15.5 million tonnes."

"As it stands we are already seeing farmers letting stock in on stunted
crops."

 "This Government is determined to convince the Australian people that
climate change is not having the devastating effect on agriculture that
we are seeing on the ground," said Senator Siewert.

"We desperately need to be tackling the question of how much our
underlying climate and rainfall patterns may have changed and developing
a national strategy on how to help rural industries transition," she
concluded.


For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au


Tim Norton
Communications and Campaigns
Office of Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia
Tim.Norton at aph.gov.au
www.rachelsiewert.org.au

Electorate Office 
1/151 Brisbane St Northbridge WA 
P: (08) 9228 3277  |  F: (08) 9228 4055

Canberra Office 
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 
Phone: 02 6277 3587  |  Fax: 02 6277 5762