This cereal contains two main groups of varieties, 2-row and 6-row. The former is generally, but not exclusively, preferred for malting purposes. Barley is grown principally as a grain crop, although in some areas it is used as a fodder crop for grazing, with grain being subsequently harvested if conditions are suitable. It is often grown as a rotation crop with wheat, oats and pasture. When sown for fodder, sowing may take place either early or late in the season, as barley has a short growing period. It may therefore provide grazing or fodder supplies when other sources are not available. Barley grain may be crushed to meal for stock or sold for malting. DIAGRAM 1 shows the production of barley for grain in Australia in 1996-97:
DIAGRAM 1
BARLEY FOR GRAIN, Production – 1996-97(a)
(a) This map has been generated using small area Agricultural Census data for 1996-97.
Source: AgStats (7117.0).
Barley production fell by 16% to 5.0 million tonnes in 1999-2000 (TABLE 1). Falls in barley production were recorded in all States except Victoria, where production increased by 37% to 1.2 million tonnes after a poor season in 1998-99.
TABLE
1
| BARLEY FOR GRAIN, AREA AND PRODUCTION AREA ('000 ha.) | |||||||
| YEAR |
NSW |
VIC |
QLD |
SA |
WA |
TAS |
AUST |
|
1994-95 |
410 |
492 |
93 |
882 |
579 | 14 |
2,470 |
| 1995-96 |
593 |
628 |
168 |
964 |
745 |
14 |
3,111 |
| 1996-97 |
668 |
585 |
180 |
1009 | 909 |
15 |
3,366 |
| 1997-98 |
701 |
618 |
135 |
1017 | 1036 |
13 |
3,521 |
| 1998-99 |
638 |
568 |
163 |
975 | 811 |
11 |
3,167 |
| 1999-2000 |
476 |
585 |
130 |
845 |
550 | 9 |
2,596 |
|
PRODUCTION ('000 t) |
|||||||
| 1994-95 |
291 |
448 |
73 |
1159 |
915 |
27 |
2,913 |
| 1995-96 |
1074 |
1342 |
195 |
1851 |
1323 |
38 |
5, |
|
1996-97 |
1483 |
1189 |
429 |
1923 | 1635 |
35 |
6,696 |
|
1997-98 |
1365 |
928 |
205 |
2027 | 1926 |
31 |
6,482 |
| 1998-99 |
1247 |
870 |
320 |
2051 |
1469 |
30 |
5,987 |
| 1999-2000 |
1040 |
1189 |
254 |
1409 |
1117 |
22 |
5,032 |