Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 18 June 2026

Key issues

• In the week ending 17 June 2026, low-pressure systems and a cloudband brought rainfall to parts of southern, western and eastern Australia.
  • Most cropping regions in Western Australia and western South Australia, as well as isolated areas of western Victoria, recorded 10-100 millimetres of rainfall over the period. Meanwhile, remaining cropping regions in Victoria and South Australia, as well as northern New South Wales and southern Queensland saw 5-50 millimetres.
  • The heavier falls across Western Australia and western South Australia would have provided a boost to soil moisture levels which will support the establishment and growth of winter crops.
• Over the 8 days to 25 June 2026, cold fronts and low-pressure systems are expected to bring rainfall to large areas of eastern and central Australia, while western and northern regions remain largely dry.
  • Falls of 10-50 millimetres are forecast for Victoria, with lower rainfall totals of 10-25 millimetres forecast for New South Wales and much of Queensland.
  • If realised, these expected falls are likely to provide an additional boost to soil moisture levels across many eastern cropping areas. These falls are also expected to support the establishment and growth of winter crops.
• Rainfall in May 2026 was variable across the world’s major grain- and oilseed-producing regions, leading to differing crop production outcomes. Global production conditions were generally favourable for maize, soybeans, and rice. Global wheat production conditions are more variable with unfavourable conditions across parts of the United States, Canada, the European Union and Australia weighing on potential production outcomes.
  • Global production conditions have been slightly more favourable to those used to formulate ABARES 2026–27 forecasts of global grain supplies and world prices in the June 2026 Agricultural Commodities Report. As a result, global grain and oilseed production are likely to increase beyond the estimates in the June forecast, due to small improvements in global wheat and maize production.
• Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 205 gigalitres (GL) between 11 June 2026 and 18 June 2026. The current volume of water held in storages is 10,755 GL, equivalent to 48% of total storage capacity. This is 17% or 2,168 GL less than the same time last year. Water storage data is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology.
• Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke increased from $372/ML on 11 June 2026 to $384/ML on 18 June 2026. Trade from the Goulburn to the Murray is closed. Trade downstream through the Barmah Choke is closed. Trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray is open.