Delivering grain to a CBH site in the Esperance zone. Image: John Wallace
RAIN across Western Australia’s growing regions last week has slowed harvest activity, but the state’s bulk handler CBH Group still managed to receive 1.52 million tonnes (Mt) in the week to today.
In its weekly Harvest Report, CBH Group has detailed its intake for the harvest to date, now at 6.91Mt, or about 51pc of total harvest estimates for the year.
“This year we forecasted the CBH network would receive 13.7 million tonnes across the state,” CBH Group chief operations officer Mick Daw said.
“Recent wet weather has slowed down harvest for some, but by many accounts harvest is still expected to wrap up in December for the majority of growers.”
Table 1: CBH Group harvest 2023-24 receivals to November 20.
Following is a round-up of activities by zone:
Albany
Wet weather received throughout last weekend and early last week slowed harvest across the Albany Zone.
The southern areas of the Zone continued to receive showers for several days, while heavier rainfall and some isolated hail fell in the northern part of the zone.
Harvest restarted towards the end of the week, and warmer weather over the weekend helped.
Barley is the main commodity being delivered in the zone, with canola starting to slow down.
Wheat is beginning to be delivered in most areas.
Esperance
Weather conditions, particularly cool temperatures over the past week, have impacted harvest progress in the zone.
Wheat is the main commodity currently being received, with canola and barley receivals slowing down.
Pulses remain relatively low in tonnage.
Most growers are aiming to conclude harvest around the second week of December, based on the anticipation of a clear run ahead.
Geraldton
Deliveries in the Geraldton Zone have potential to hit 1.4Mt, with the main commodities being received being H2 and APW1 wheat.
Barley and canola are still coming in, but only in very small amounts.
Wet weather slowed harvest across the southern part of the zone earlier in the week, and receivals on Friday were impacted by harvest bans tied to fire risk, and forecast high temperatures and wind speeds for this week look likely to bring further bans.
Sites across the zone are reducing hours as required, with the Geraldton Grain Terminal, Moonyoonooka and Narngulu changing their closing times to 8pm and closing Sundays.
Kwinana North Zone
The Kwinana North Zone received 10-50mm on Sunday and Monday, delaying harvest programs.
Receivals in the zone now sit at 60pc of the estimated total.
Wheat is the main commodity being received, with small amounts of barley and canola still being received.
Kwinana South
Rain and hail across the zone paused some harvest programs, with incidences of crop damage also seen.
Wheat took over as the major receival in the past week, while barley is still coming in consistently, and canola deliveries are slowing.
Higher protein wheat grades (ASW9, APW and H2) make up more than 65pc of wheat received.
Receivals of oats and lupins remain below 10,000t for each commodity so far.
HAVE YOUR SAY