Carting grain into CBH Group’s site at Moora in the Kwinana North Zone. Photo: Darryn Browne

GROWERS have delivered 2.98 million tonnes (Mt) of grain into the CBH Group network in the week to November 27 to boost intake for the 2022-23 harvest to 6.93Mt, according to the Western Australian bulk handler’s Harvest Report released today.

The week saw improved weather conditions for most growers across the state.

CBH Group chief operations officer Mick Daw said it was pleasing to hear some reports of higher-than-expected yields and, combined with better weather conditions, several sites had set new receival records over the past week.  

“We have seen an increase in daily tonnages, and we are now receiving in excess of 425,000 tonnes per day,” Mr Daw said.

“Pleasingly, a lot of these tonnages have been received at sites seamlessly which is a testament to our frontline and maintenance teams who remain calm under the pressure of harvest, as well as the investments that we have made into our assets and infrastructure.”

Table 1: CBH receivals in the 2022-23 harvest to November 27. Source: CBH Group

Albany Zone

Most of the zone has seen some good harvesting weather in the past week, with daily records broken at Wellstead and Hyden.

Most of the grain received at sites has been canola and barley, with some wheat being delivered in the northern part of the zone.

Grain quality has been good across the board with yields better than expected in some areas, and all sites in the zone are open and receiving grain, with the cycle time sitting at 40.9 minutes.

Esperance Zone

Weather has finally started to improve across the zone, were all grades are now being received with the dominate grains still canola and barley.

Wheat tonnages are also increasing across the zone, and cycle times are sitting at 55 minutes with all sites now open.

Geraldton Zone

Daily receival records have been broken this week at: Perenjori; Yuna; Canna; Marchagee, and Northampton

Geraldton in the past week set a new daily receival record of 110,944t, with daily records broken at: Canna; Marchagee; Perenjori; Northampton, and Yuna.

Growers are starting to switch to wheat with the good harvesting weather, and some feed barley and canola services are closing.

Grain is coming in with good quality and cycle time sitting at 46.5 minutes.

Kwinana North Zone

The zone is now in full swing, despite Friday rain slowing receivals over the weekend, and Konogorring broke its daily receival record.

All commodities are now being received across the zone, with good grain quality and yields higher than expected in some areas, although a lot of low protein wheat has been coming in across the zone.

All sites are open throughout each area, with cycle time sitting at 42.6 minutes.

Kwinana South Zone

Harvest receivals have ramped up across the zone, with most sites doing high volumes despite weather events, and 23 per cent of the estimated total now delivered.

Canola volumes are still high across the zone, and barley and wheat volumes are increasing and will be the main commodities received this week.

Source: CBH Group