This cargo of barley loading at Port Lincoln and bound for China marks Viterra’s first new-crop shipment for 2023-24. Photo: Viterra

THE Viterra network received 1 million tonnes (Mt) in the week to Sunday to take its total receivals for the current harvest to almost 2.49Mt.

In its latest Weekly harvest report, Viterra Western region operations manager Nick Pratt said warmer conditions made for a busy week.

“The weather during the week was great for growers and had the whole region harvesting,” Mr Pratt said.

“While sites further up in the Eyre Peninsula have started to slow down, the lower EP has continued to increase.

“Port Lincoln and Cummins have been our busiest sites.”

Mr Pratt said most growers in the Western region expect to be finishing harvest this year a few weeks ahead of the normal time.

Last week saw Viterra’s Western region loaded its first vessel of new-crop grain, 66,000t of barley at Port Lincoln, and now on its way to China.

A cargo of wheat bound for Malaysia left Thevenard as the second vessel for the season’s 6.3Mt booked shipping program.

Viterra Central region operations manager Jack Tansley said the region was seeing higher volumes of wheat as growers in the region progressively complete their lentil harvests and deliveries ramp up.

“The biggest volume during the week was into the Yorke Peninsula sites: Wallaroo; Ardrossan, and Port Giles,” Mr Tansley said.

“Snowtown and Bowmans were also getting busy with both wheat and barley receivals.

“Gladstone and Crystal Brook have started to build in volume with growers harvesting all commodities.

“The Lower North is starting to get going, with Saddleworth and Eudunda receiving their first loads on Monday.”

“We loaded our first new-season trains at Bowmans and Gladstone during the week, moving grain to port for shipping to international markets.”

Since the beginning of the season, Viterra has moved more than 163,000t of local growers’ grain by rail and truck from its storage sites to port for shipping, and to ensure available storage capacity for growers.

Viterra Eastern region operations manager Andrew Cannon said two sites in the region received their first loads during the week.

“Coonalpyn and Bordertown received their first deliveries for this harvest, loads of genetically modified canola at both sites,” Mr Cannon said.

“New-season canola deliveries continued to build at Tailem Bend, Keith and Wolseley.

“In the northern Mallee, we are now seeing strong receivals of wheat into our Loxton and Werrimull sites.

“In the southern Mallee at Lameroo and Pinnaroo, we are receiving steady volumes of barley and lentils and some early wheat deliveries.”

“With good harvest weather throughout the week and over the weekend, sites were open with extended hours to meet the needs of growers in the region.”

Source: Viterra