East Australia farmers face drier weather outlook

Published: 22 Oct 2009 17:42:15 PST

SYDNEY, Oct 23 - Farmers in eastern Australia may experience drier-than-normal weather conditions from November to the end of January, as they bring in wheat and other grains harvests, according to a forecast by Australia's weather bureau.

The bureau said drier-than-normal conditions were favoured for southeast Queensland state and much of New South Wales state. Both states produce wheat and Queensland is also the country's main sugar producer.

The bureau said the outlook showed a moderate to strong shift in the odds favouring warmer-than-normal minimum temperatures over mainland Australia during the three months, and warm daytime temperatures over most of Queensland and New South Wales.