Two vessels, one carrying wheat and the other barley, loaded at Viterra’s Port Lincoln terminal in the Christmas week. Photo: Viterra

VITERRA has received 5.57 million tonnes (Mt) of grain in the harvest to January 2, according to its first harvest report after the Christmas-New Year break.

Between December 20 2021 and January 2 2022, growers delivered 684,636t of grain into the Viterra network in South Australia, and its two sites in western Victoria.

The majority of deliveries were wheat, followed by barley, faba beans and canola.

As deliveries start to slow now that many growers have finished harvest, Viterra said it was continuing to prepare grain in storage for domestic buyers, and for exports to meet strong demand.

In Viterra’s Western region, just a few growers are finishing off deliveries as harvest in a successful season concludes, as evidenced by Viterra’s Wudinna site breaking its harvest receivals record.

A heavy shipping schedule and accumulation program continues in the Western Region, with a vessel each of wheat and barley departing Port Lincoln in the Christmas week, followed by three further ships carrying wheat, two from Port Lincoln and another from Thevenard.

Grain deliveries during the Christmas week in Viterra’s Central region were light, with growers either done with harvest, or taking a break.

Viterra Central Region operations manager Jack Tansley said most activity was around Viterra’s Gladstone, Roseworthy and Saddleworth sites.

”The teams at our sites are now very busy with grain preparation, out-turns and ship loading,” Mr Tansley said.

“A ship loaded with barley left Wallaroo between Christmas and New Year.”

In Viterra’s Adelaide region, grower deliveries have also been easing, as many growers finished harvest by the end of December.

Viterra Adelaide Region operations manager Neil Carr said growers were delivering wheat and faba beans from all areas of South Australia, as well as from Victoria and New South Wales.

“We have had a solid shipping program under way, with wheat and barley exports having left both Inner Harbour and Outer Harbor between 20 December and 2 January,” Mr Carr said.

Receivals into Viterra’s Eastern region are reaching completion, with the majority of activity confined to the state’s south-east.

Viterra Eastern Region operations manager Jo Klitscher said these sites were continuing to receive wheat, barley, canola, faba beans and oats.

Source: Viterra