The forecast for grain production in 2008-09 is higher than expected due to record plantings. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics said that grain planting was nine per cent higher, giving a forecast crop of 37.1 million tonnes. Wheat planting was 13 per cent higher at a record 14 million hectares. Wheat production was estimated to be 23.7 million tonnes, which is 82 per cent higher than the previous year. However, production depends on receiving rain during the growing season

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