Rye (Secale cereale) is a winter-spring cereal, with a similar growing period to wheat, oats and barley. It is mainly grown in southern Australia, where it is grown for its seed, for grazing, or for stabilising eroded areas. Production fluctuates slightly and in some years rye is imported from Canada to supplement Australian supplies. Cereal rye is also used for distilling alcohols such as gin, beer and whisky and in combination with wheat flour it is used for bread making.