FARMERS are expected to plant 23.55 million hectares to winter crops this year – up more than 3 per cent on 2023 – despite a mixed start to the season, Rabobank reports in its 2024/25 Australian Winter Crop Outlook.

The specialist agribusiness bank said the increase in planting was driven by a positive outlook for New South Wales and Queensland as well as overall better margins year-on-year.