The 1995 wheat crop in Australia is estimated to be sharply up from the previous year’s drought-reduced level following generally favourable growing conditions throughout the growing season. The latest official forecast (5 December 1995) puts wheat output at 17.1 million tons, slightly up from earlier forecasts and 92 percent up from the previous year. The winter barley crop is forecast at 5.6 million tons, which would also be about double the previous year’s crop. The 1996 summer sorghum crop has continued to develop well following good rainfall in the major eastern growing regions in late December and January. Although a high occurrence of locusts in New South Wales and Queensland is giving rise to some concern for the summer crops, no significant damage has yet been reported and authorities are closely monitoring the situation to take controlling action if required. Production is now expected to increase to over 1 million tons from some 900 000 tons in the previous year.