DELIVERIES to eastern Australia’s two biggest bulk handlers, GrainCorp and Viterra, have passed 6.25 million tonnes (Mt).
Harvest activity is winding down in Queensland and accelerating in other states amid a mix of localised rain delays and some harvest bans due to hot and windy weather.
GrainCorp is the major bulk handler for Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (Table 1), while Viterra is the dominant operator in South Australia, and has two sites in Victoria.
GrainCorp receival tonnage | 27 Oct-16 Nov | Harvest to 16 Nov |
Queensland | 470,300 | 898,300 |
New South Wales | 3,436,480 | 3,696,480 |
Victoria | not quoted | 300,600 |
Total tonnes | 3,906,780 | 4,895,380 |
Table 1: GrainCorp 2020-21 harvest receivals to 16 November.
GrainCorp reports the NSW harvest is in full swing from the Moree district near the Queensland border to Boree Creek in the state’s south, and grain quality is holding, despite some weather events.
In Victoria, sites in the north east, northern Mallee and Swan Hill regions are now fully operational, while harvest in the Wimmera and central Victoria is likely to commence in the coming week.
GrainCorp’s second harvest report for the season was released yesterday, and follows the initial 2020-21 bulletin released on 27 October.
SA intake doubles
Viterra received over 680,367t into its sites in the week to Sunday to lift its total intake, to date, to 1.36Mt (Table 2).
Monday last week was Viterra’s biggest day for receivals so far this harvest, with deliveries into sites reaching nearly 180,000t.
Viterra’s Lock site had its highest receival day ever on 9 November with 8365 tonnes to break the previous record set in the 2016-17 harvest of 7926t.
Week to 15 Nov | Harvest to 15 Nov | |
Western region | 303,204 | 705,334 |
Central region | 259,436 | 495,706 |
Eastern region | 117,727 | 163,677 |
Total tonnes | 680,367 | 1,364,717 |
Table 2: Viterra 2020-21 harvest receivals to 15 November.
Viterra Central region operations manager Jack Tansley said the Central region had 13 sites open in the week to Sunday
“We received nearly 260,000t last week, with the majority of activity in the region on the Yorke Peninsula and Mid North,” Mr Tansley said.
“Our Gladstone and Booleroo Centre sites picked up, with barley making up the majority of deliveries.
“In the north of the region wheat deliveries are increasing as barley slows.”
In the Eastern region, 10 sites are now receiving grain after Keith site welcomed barley as its first load for the season on Tuesday.
Viterra Eastern region operations manager Jo Klitscher said the weather slowed deliveries into the site for the rest of the week.
“Cold and wet weather in the south-east of the region has pushed back the start of harvest,” Ms Klitscher said.
Growers are hoping the weather will improve so they can get things going.
“The weather was better for other areas in the region and we saw deliveries into sites such as Tailem Bend ramp up last week.
“We are seeing strong deliveries of lentils into sites, and are commencing outturns to ensure there is space for growers to deliver.”
Source: GrainCorp, Viterra
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