WINTER crop harvest in Australia’s eastern cropping zone is progressing southwards with receival and storage operator, GrainCorp, releasing its first intake figures for the season today, so far totalling 857,400 tonnes.

Harvest in Central Queensland has begun to taper off with receival sites starting to wind down while further south around the Darling Downs, Western Downs and Goondiwindi districts deliveries are ramping up with storage sites taking in predominantly wheat.

Rain events in Queensland over recent weeks have slowed receivals in many areas.

In north west NSW, some sites across the Moree and Burren Junction clusters are now receiving grain.

At this early stage the quality indicates a normal receival split across wheat grades and very good quality for barley.

GrainCorp reports that Flex sites such as Noondoo and Wallumbilla in Queensland are receiving grain for the first time in 10 years and Kiacatoo in NSW is ready for grain for the first time in seven years.

Site expansions are completed or well underway at Coonamble, Gilgandra, Moree, Trundle and Deniliquin in NSW, and Murchison East, Tocumwal and Nhill in Victoria.

GrainCorp says its Queensland sites are fully staffed with all casual roles filled, while there are still some available in New South Wales and Victoria.

GrainCorp is operating under strict COVID-19 protocols on its sites where face masks are mandatory, vaccination is strongly encouraged (government-mandated in Victoria) and growers are urged to keep in close contact with site managers.

Source: GrainCorp