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declined, and in more recent years chickpea returns have increased relative to wheat. During
that same period, the average gross returns per hectare for canola have declined substantially
relative to those for wheat. These changes in the level of gross returns would support a
decline in relative importance of lupins and field peas over the 1990s and an increase in the
relative importance of chickpeas since the mid-1990s if the decision were made solely on the
average gross returns that have been received per hectare. They also support a decline in the
relative importance of canola in recent years.
Figure 9: Gross Returns from Pulse and Canola Crops Relative to Wheat, NSW,
1991 to 2004
Gross Return of Canola Relative to Wheat: