Oats harvested by Chris Somers in WA’s Northam district after rain last week. Photo: Georgie Troup
WESTERN Australian growers have delivered 8.9 million tonnes (Mt) of grain to the CBH Group network following receivals for the week to Sunday of 1.7Mt.
In its weekly harvest report, CBH Group said a new daily receival record of 620,000t was set last Monday, 17,000t above the previous record set on 2 December 2022.
In the week to Sunday, daily site receival records were broken at eight CBH sites: Corrigin; Gairdner; Merredin; Mt Madden; Nyabing; Perenjori; Wickepin, and York.
The record day was likely prompted by a forecast rain event expected to sweep across all zones from Tuesday.
This weather system eventuated, bringing harvest to a halt for nearly all growers, influencing CBH to close sites and services across the network.
Following is a round-up of conditions by port zone:
Albany
The zone received 2-10mm of rain on Tuesday, which stopped harvest for a few days.
Some growers were able to recommence on Friday, with the balance aiming to restart over the weekend.
Barley and canola were the main commodities received, with some wheat received across the zone.
All sites in the zone are starting to reopen up after the rain, with some sites running on minimal staff until harvest picks up again.
Albany zone broke its daily receival record on November 18 with 138,800t, as did Nyabing and Gairdner, taking 8600t and 11,300t respectively.
Esperance
Last Monday saw 113,000t, the most for any day this harvest, and close to its all-time daily record, delivered in the Esperance Zone, as growers hurried to complete their deliveries before the anticipated rain on Tuesday.
All commodities are being received throughout the zone, with growers nearing the end of their canola programs; substantial areas of barley and wheat remain to be harvested.
Many site segregations were closed following Tuesday’s rain, but most have now reopened or are very close to doing so.
Mount Madden set a new daily receival record again on Monday 18 November with 8,654 tonnes, topping the new record of 8,130 tonnes only set on Wednesday 13 November. Both Munglinup and West River experienced their second biggest days on record.
Geraldton
Heavy rain hit the Geraldton Zone on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, with some areas getting over 50mm.
The wet weather will likely delay most growers in the zone and we don’t expect to start seeing decent tonnages coming in until today or tomorrow.
We have received over 1.7 million tonnes for the season, with a 102,000 tonnes being received on Monday.
All commodities are still open for receivals; however, barley and canola have dropped off with wheat making up most of the tonnes delivered in the week to Sunday.
The Narngulu and Perenjori sites have both broken their daily receival totals, taking in more than 13,600t on November 11 and 6400t on November 18 respectively.
Kwinana North
Rain all but stopped harvest across the zone last Tuesday.
Canola receivals have slowed now they have passed the estimated total, and wheat is now the major commodity being delivered.
Merredin broke its daily receival record on November 18, receiving 21,571t.
Kwinana South
Harvest continued at a decent pace at the start of last week, with some record volumes being received on Monday.
Rain all but stopped receivals from last Tuesday, with only small volumes trickling in from field bins.
Most growers switched to wheat prior to Tuesday’s rain, and the zone has received only half its estimated canola and barley harvest intake.
All major sites and service are now open and receiving all commodities.
Daily receival records were broken at York, Corrigin, and Wickepin with 14,200t, 9400t and 8100t respectively.
Source: CBH Group
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