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Both the south-east and south-west regions have also shown an increase in the area sown to
winter pulses and oilseeds (Figure 4). In both southern regions, oilseeds (in this case, canola)
have become the most important crop other than cereals since 1993. The impact of the
widespread drought in 2002 is evident in the area sown to winter crops, particularly in the
northern and south-west regions. In those regions, NSW Department of Primary Industries
extension activities will be focused on promoting new upright field pea and mustard varieties
that are more tolerant of drought conditions.
By 2002, both northern regions had over 15% of the winter crop area sown to broadleaf crops,
while the south-west region had only about half that level. In the south-east region, the
proportion of broadleaf crops reached 24% in 1999, but has shown some signs of decline
since. The extent to which this is a result of the drought or other factors remains unclear at
this stage.