Growing Footprints: Lentils Expand Across Australian States
Lentils are moving from niche rotations into broad, state-wide cropping strategies across Australia. Data from ABARES shows a clear trajectory: more hectares and higher production are forecast, driven by renewed interest in Western Australia (WA), strong performances in South Australia (SA) and Victoria (Vic), and ongoing expansion in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (Qld). The crop’s footprint is pushing toward a record harvest, building on the largest planting of 1.14 million hectares in recent years.
Across SA and Vic, growers are embracing lentils as a flexible break crop that fits with canola, cereals, and legumes rotations. NSW is following suit, with ABARES projecting record area. The nationwide trend signals a more resilient pulse sector that can help diversify rotations, improve soil health, and provide a robust market option for farmers facing variable weather conditions.
Western Australia: A New Era with ALB Burdett
WA is reactivating its lentil program, buoyed by the release of a region-specific variety, ALB Burdett. Identified by WA DPIRD scientist Mark Seymour for its robust performance when planted early, Burdett has shown promise in Mount Burdett and the Wittenoom Hills district near Esperance. The seed’s release at a field walk honored Mount Burdett’s late owner, Chris Reichstein, who supported rural WA and continues to influence trials and philanthropic activity via the Mount Burdett Foundation.
Analysts expect ALB Burdett to occupy around 2,000 hectares in WA next year, primarily in Esperance and nearby pockets. If successful, Burdett could challenge PBA Bolt as the state’s dominant lentil variety. As a non-IMI tolerant line with improved botrytis resistance and decent tolerance to saline soils, Burdett offers a practical option for early sowing windows—after canola around mid-April and before cereals in May.
WA’s historical context and future potential
WA’s lentil trajectory isn’t a simple return to form; it’s a calculated reintroduction of pulses into a diversified cropping system. While WA’s 2020-21 lentil area and production were modest, the 2025-26 forecast indicates growth across the state, albeit still trailing record levels seen in 2019-20 and 2021-22. The Esperance soils, known for their legume-friendly characteristics, make WA an essential testbed for new varieties and sowing strategies that can complement other major crops.
Queensland: The Southern Cluster’s First Significant Pulse Push
Queensland’s lentil story is relatively new but rapidly evolving. A CSIRO trial at Wellcamp, part of the Frost and Heat Management Analytics (FAHMA) project, is highlighting the crop’s potential in northern production systems. ALB Terrier, along with PBA Kelpie XT, forms a core part of Queensland’s early lentil experiments. Since the 2018–2020 period, Queensland has moved from a few hundred hectares to over 1,000 hectares in several seasons, underscoring a growing confidence in lentil suitability for northern climates.
The FAHMA project, launched in 2022, aims to quantify frost and heat stress impacts on multiple crops, including lentils. By analyzing biomass, canopy temperature, phenology, and sensor data, researchers hope to predict yield losses more accurately and guide growers on optimal sowing windows. A recent unofficial field day at Wellcamp showcased ALB Terrier and PBA Hallmark XT plots across multiple sowing dates, reinforcing the value of adaptive management in uncertain weather.
Early Sowing Windows and Economic Implications
Across WA, SA, Vic, NSW, and Qld, timing matters. Trials suggest the best yields come from sowing lentils after canola but before cereals and other pulses, with an emphasis on early-season establishment. This window optimizes rainfall capture, reduces disease risk, and aligns with harvest timing to avoid late-season weather disruptions. For farmers, the evolving agronomy means new variety choices, extended equipment compatibility, and the potential for improved soil health through diversified rotations.
Looking Ahead: A Record-Breaking Year for Australian Lentils
With record areas projected in multiple states and ongoing breeding improvements, lentils appear poised to push past previous production highs. The integration of ALB Burdett and Terrier genetics, combined with targeted agronomic practices and climate-smart research, could turn this crop into a mainstream staple for Australian farmers. Stakeholders from farmers to researchers are watching closely as FAHMA data and ABARES forecasts shape decisions that will define lentil production for years to come.
