It says many farmers have already started their cropping programs and if a decent season break occurs, a record cropping program is likely.

The DPI has surveyed nearly 400 grain growers across the State to investigate the type of crop and area they intend to sow to each crop.

Chris Sounness, from DPI's Grains Team said wheat is likely to be the largest crop sown with an expected 1.6m ha this season – more than a 20pc increase compared to the 2005-06 ABS data, the last year official figures were available.

"Barley is up almost 30pc on 2005-06 data to over 850,000ha, while oats are up over 250,000ha," Mr Sounness said.

"The canola area is only slightly up with a decrease in the north of the State and an increase in the higher rainfall region of the south.

"The DPI expects nearly 220,000ha to be sown to

canola this year.

"However, the area to pulse crops is well down when compared to previous years with only the chickpea area growing but limited chickpeas have been sown in prior years."

Mr Sounness said the data appeared to support a swing into increased cereal cropping – a trend which stemmed from a number of factors.

"The upward movement in commodity prices is encouraging growers to increase the area they crop," Mr Sounness said.

"The prospect of a record year if we see average rainfall in 2008 could ease the debt burden faced by many growers on the back of years of drought and below average rainfall."

Mr Sounness emphasised that estimates for crop area sown are based on the break of the season occurring in the next few weeks.

If that doesn't happen, many growers will be readjusting their programs and thinking about what area they do finally crop.