Australia's winter crop production will be 4 million tons less than the previous season due to dry conditions, according to latest official forecasts.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics ( ABARE) said on Tuesday that the winter production will fall by 11 percent in 2006-07 to about 36 million tons.

Australia, one of the world's leading wheat exporters, will see its wheat production to drop nine percent to 22.8 million tons.

The ongoing drought is expected to cut the area sown to winter crops by six percent to 20 million hectares, according to an ABARE statement.

The states worst affected by drought, New South Wales and Queensland, are expected to record big falls in winter crop product.

Source: Xinhua