Port Pirie region barley on Viterra’s first train of new-crop this week was destined for Outer Harbor. Photo: Viterra

GROWERS delivered 213,281 tonnes of mostly barley into Viterra’s Australian network last week to lift the total for the harvest to November 7 to 256,809t.

Deliveries in all three Viterra regions are now being made following a barley delivery made into Monarto South last week which kicked off intake in the Eastern Region.

Further loads of barley have since started to flow into Dooen as one of Viterra’s two Victorian sites, and Apamurra, Pinnaroo, Tailem Bend and Werrimull in South Australia.

Viterra Central Region operations manager Jack Tansley said the majority of the region’s activity was at Ardrossan, Bowmans, Crystal Brook, Port Pirie, Snowtown, and Wallaroo.

“Growers have so far delivered into 13 sites in the region, most of which were open on Saturday so growers could continue to reap,” Mr Tansley said.

Viterra also loaded its first new season grain train with 2400 tonnes of barley at Port Pirie, which headed to Outer Harbor to help accumulate grain for the terminal’s first export vessel of the season.

“We’ve outturned trains from Port Pirie, Snowtown and Bowmans this week destined for our Adelaide ports to load vessels.”

The Upper Eyre Peninsula has had steady deliveries of barley, with some wheat starting to coming in as well.

Viterra operations manager Nick Pratt said most of the activity was into Arno Bay, Kimba, Lock, Thevenard, Rudall and Wudinna.

“We’re waiting for a break in the weather before we expect to see receivals ramp up,” Mr Pratt said.

Last week, a Viterra site received its first load of genetically modified (GM) canola, which came into Port Neill.

“We’re very pleased to welcome the first load of GM canola for the Viterra network and look forward to supporting growers as they deliver the commodity for the first time this season into Viterra.”

Table 1: Viterra deliveries by region in the 2021-22 harvest.

Source: Viterra