Harvest is wrapping up in many districts in WA, including Corrigin in the Kwinana South zone. Photo: Ashley Jacobs

DELIVERIES in the week to Sunday of 1.2 million tonnes (Mt) lifted total receivals into the CBH Group for the slowing Western Australian harvest to 11.7Mt.

The Albany and Kwinana South zones contributed the vast majority of tonnes to the weekly total.

Harvest is almost over in the Esperance, Kwinana North and Geraldton zones, where deliveries into the system have slowed to a trickle.

CBH Group chief operations officer Mick Daw said with receivals declining in every zone, the co-operative was preparing for the end of harvest.

“With most growers still on track to wrap up harvest before Christmas, we have started closing sites and reducing operating hours across the network,” Mr Daw said.

“On Christmas Eve, the small number of remaining sites that we expect to still be open will close for grower receivals at 12 noon and reopen Wednesday 27 December as per normal.

“For the New Year period, the remaining open sites will close for grower receivals on…New Year’s Eve and reopen Tuesday 2 January as per normal.

“On behalf of CBH, I want to say a big thank you to growers, transporters, contractors and regional communities for their support over the past year and wish them a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.”

Following is a summary of conditions by region:

Albany Zone

Most grain coming into Albany zone sites in the past week has been wheat, with barley deliveries slowing down.

Canola is also dropping off, with most growers finished with this part of their harvesting programs.

All sites are open, but sites will start shortening opening hours and days as tonnes start to reduce.

Esperance Zone

Harvest in the Esperance zone has tapered off, and most deliveries in the past week were received within the port precinct.

Wheat is still dominating the receivals, but both barley and canola are still also making their way in, although much lower in total tonnage.

Field peas and lupin deliveries remain low.

Geraldton Zone

The Geraldton zone has had no weather issues in the past week, with wheat accounting for most of the deliveries now that most growers have finished.

Mingenew remains open for outloading, with minimal tonnes being received.

Carnamah, Narngulu and Geraldton Grain Terminal are still open with reduced hours.

Kwinana North Zone

Receivals have reached 91 percent of the initial 2.4Mt estimate, which has now been revised down by 100,000t.

All deliveries are now wheat.

Kwinana South Zone

Compared with the previous week, tonnes received decreased slightly in the past week as harvest starts to slow down across the zone.

Though fairly low, oat receivals remained consistent.

Receivals of canola and lupins were minimal but did still come in during the week.

The amount of barley being received is dropping, while wheat is still coming in steadily.