AFTER general rain fell across most of the NSW cropping areas in the past week, it's becoming increasingly likely the state's farmers could see back-to-back bumper winter crop harvests.
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This was unthinkable just 18 months ago when regional areas were in the grip of the state's worst drought in recent memory.
But the rains have returned, crops are flourishing, and optimism is high.
It's a theme that's being echoed across most of Australia's cropping regions after a wet June.
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Medium term weather outlooks suggest this pattern is likely to continue through the winter and into the spring.
There are growing signs that much of Australia will experience unusually cold and wet weather this winter and spring, with a negative Indian Ocean Dipole emerging in recent weeks.
Much of inland Australia received above average rainfall in June, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting the wetter pattern is likely to continue into the spring.
Crop expectations are climbing on the back of the June rain and the favourable outlook.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) is currently forecasting Australia's 2021 wheat crop at 27.8 million tonnes but others are already tipping a back-to-back crop of more than 30 million tonnes.
Grain prices remain steady for nearby deliveries but softer for October forward as buyers become increasingly comfortable with the prospects of another big grain harvest later in the year.
Global grain markets continued with the volatility and chopping pattern last week.
Rain through the United States corn belt states put pressure on grain futures last week, although drought is still threatening crops in the northern United States and Canadian Prairies.
Drought across much of the north western United States is described as the worst in decades.
Hot, dry and windy weather has savaged the high protein spring wheat crops on both sides of the United States and Canadian border.
It remains to be seen how this will impact Australian wheat prices.
Extreme heat is also a concern for canola yields in Canada with temperatures climbing into the mid 40s (degrees Celsius) in Saskatchewan on Sunday, which is even hot by Australian standards.
Canadian canola futures have surged higher in recent days as crops wilt with the unprecedented temperatures and dry weather.
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