During this monitoring period, Australia was in a critical transition stage from winter wheat land preparation to formal sowing.  CropWatch agrometeorological indicators show that national cumulative precipitation totaled 97 mm, 5% below the 15-year average; the mean temperature was 18.3°C, slightly above normal; and photosynthetically active radiation was markedly lower (−9%). Under climate conditions dominated by insufficient sunlight and accompanied by a slight precipitation deficit, national potential accumulated biomass was 4% below normal, indicating a modest constraint on early-season growth potential. The national cropland planting fraction increased significantly relative to the five-year average, suggesting that land preparation has generally progressed smoothly. The crop production situation index was above the long-term baseline, indicating a stable and improving pre-sowing agricultural outlook.

Regional differences in soil moisture and land preparation are pronounced, with the core risk concentrated on soil moisture deficits in the major production zones. In the southwestern core wheat belt, precipitation was substantially lower by 51% (Figure 2.2), resulting in severely insufficient pre-sowing soil moisture; land preparation proceeded normally, but the sowing window is constrained, making this the key focus area for soil-moisture monitoring. In the southeastern wheat belt, precipitation was 24% above normal, soil moisture was adequate, and land preparation and sowing operations advanced actively. In the semi-humid subtropical zone, vegetation showed some recovery, but cropland preparation activities were minimal and large-scale winter wheat sowing had not yet started. In arid and semi-arid areas, antecedent moisture conditions were relatively stable, but shallow soil moisture declined rapidly in late May, leading to a rapid deterioration in moisture status. In the humid temperate zone, hydrothermal conditions were the most favorable and soil moisture was suitable, but no notable field operations were observed during the period.

Overall, Australia's agricultural situation from March to May 2026 can be summarized as the key pre-sowing land-preparation period for winter wheat: nationwide field operations progressed steadily and the overall production outlook remained stable. Subsequent monitoring should focus on tracking land-preparation progress and on nationwide—especially southwestern main producing areas—dynamic soil-moisture monitoring, distinguishing remote-sensing fluctuations caused by bare soil during sowing, and closely watching rainfall-driven soil-moisture replenishment in key production regions to ensure timely winter wheat sowing.

Changes in root-zone soil moisture anomalies from March to May 2026