Western Australia’s crop area is set to fall to about 8.93 million hectares in 2026, down from last year’s record 9.45 million hectares, as growers wind back despite a strong seasonal start.

The Grain Industry Association of Western Australia April crop report stated the reduction reflected “reduced profitability of all grains” and rising input costs, with growers scaling back less viable paddocks.

The state’s 2025–26 harvest was estimated at 26.2 million tonnes by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, surpassing the previous 22.9 million tonnes record set in 2023.

Summer and autumn rain had built subsoil moisture across much of the grainbelt, lifting early confidence. However, that optimism was tempered as budgets tightened.

Wheat took the biggest hit, with area expected to fall to about 3.6 million ha, down from about 4.3 million ha last year.

Canola was forecast to climb to about 2 million ha, up roughly 15 per cent, while barley edged higher to about 2.06 million ha.

Pulses including lupins and lentils were also expanding as growers chased lower nitrogen demand and rotational benefits.

The overall area decline was being driven by a more selective approach. Growers concentrated inputs on their most productive country and pulled marginal paddocks out of cropping, either into fallow or pasture.

Nitrogen programs had already been scaled back about 30 per cent across parts of the state, with cereals dropping from around 100 to 120 units to 70 to 80 units, and canola from 125 to 140 units to about 90 to 100 units.

The result was a smaller, tighter cropping program for 2026, with profitability and risk management taking priority over scale.

Kondinin, WA grower Regan Ashley started sowing 6500ha of winter crops on April 7 and said he was mostly sticking to the program except for some minor changes which involved planting more barley instead of wheat. He said the geopolitical situation overseas was taking a toll.