The wheat crop production in New South Wales will be the highest in the state.

A 50 percent increase is expected to result in a yield of 7.8 million tonnes this year. The production is estimated to have a value of $1.8 billion.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan said, “Things are finally turning to gold for rural and regional NSW, which has been dogged by drought for far too long.” Before the end of August, the Rabobank Group predicted an estimated 15 million tonnes from the 2010-11 wheat crop to be exported.

The November and December harvests from winter crops will reach 12 million tonnes. The total production carries an estimated value of $2.8 billion. The amount is more than double the annual average over the past drought-stricken decade.

The expected increased production of winter grains would make up for the shortfall in the production of wheat with about 10 percent protein. The minister, however, warned of locusts, crop fungal diseases, and water-logged soil this season.

Whan said that locusts nymphs were seen in the Nyngan district in the state's northwest. The warmer weather last weekend brought the locust nymphs to hatch from winter dormancy.

Locust hatchings are expected to continue around the state. Hatchings are expected to begin in the coming weeks in Victoria and South Australia.