Crop production down after bumper year

After a record-breaking harvest last year, winter crop production is predicted to fall by more than 30 per cent in 2017/18.

The government's agricultural forecaster says wheat production will drop by 31 per cent to 24.2 million tonnes, while barley will be down 39 per cent.

"While down on the record production ... the latest estimates still paint a positive picture for Australia's cropping sector, with winter crop production forecast to be around the five year average to 2015/16," acting ABARES executive director Peter Gooday said on Wednesday.