November 24, 2009

Rain slows West Australian winter crops harvest

A harvest of winter grains in Western Australia - which usually accounts for 40 percent of national wheat output - has faced a slow and frustrating start, retarded by widespread rainfall, grain storage and handling Cooperative Bulk Handling Ltd. said late Monday (November 23).

Clear skies and moderate to warm temperatures are forecast across the wheatbelt this week, which should give the Western Australian harvest the boost it needs, it reported in the first of its weekly reports for the current harvest.

CBH has received 1.9 million tonnes of grain into its system -which comprises nearly 200 upcountry storage sites and four coastal export terminals - or 16 percent of its estimated total intake of 11.8 million tonnes for this crop year ending March 31.

Typically about 70 percent of CBH receivals are wheat and 20 percent are barley, most of which are exported, making the state a major supplier of these cereals to the global trade.

Almost half of CBH receivals, or 900,000 tonnes, are in the northern Geraldton zone and comprise mostly canola, barley and lupins, and an expected run of good weather should see the harvest including wheat get into full swing in coming days, said zone manager Duncan Gay.

In the eastern part of the central Kwinana zone, continuous rainfall has prevented the harvest from gathering momentum but it is too early to determine the impact of rains on grain quality or yields in this area, zone manager Alan Walker said.