A dry finish to spring in South Australia has downgraded the state's crop forecast by 100,000 tonnes, according to Primary Industries and Regions SA.

The crop is now expected to total 7.5 million tonnes, harvested from four million hectares.

Despite the downgrade from the previous Crop and Pasture Report, published in October, the harvest will still be above the long-term average.

PIRSA's grains industry accounts manager Dave Lewis says the South East was particularly hard hit by the lack of rain, with yields dropping by about 30 per cent, although other regions fared a bit better.

"Grain yields might have been impacted worse by the dry finish.

"But it has been pleasantly surprising to see crop estimates comes in as they have.

"It really does show how important stored soil moisture is and the farming technologies farmers now use to sow their crop in a timely manner."

Despite the adverse weather, barley yields and quality have been a highlight for all the state's growing regions, according to the report.

The same can't be said for canola, which in many areas was hit hard by the deadly Beet Western Yellows Virus.

Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/