December 15, 2009

West Australian harvest of winter crops mostly done

A harvest of winter grains in Western Australia state -- which usually accounts for 40% of national wheat output -- is about three quarters complete, grain storage and handling concern Cooperative Bulk Handling Ltd. said late Monday (December 14).

CBH now has received 8.8 million tonnes of grain into its system, which comprises nearly 200 upcountry storage sites and four coastal export terminals, 75% of the estimated total intake of 11.8 million tonnes for this crop year ending March 31.

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

CBH's northern Geraldton zone has received 2.2 million tonnes, including 300,000 tonnes in the week ended Monday. The harvest is starting to wind down with most receival sites to close before Christmas, zone manager Duncan Gay said in CBH's weekly harvest report.

In the Kwinana East zone, CBH has received 1.9 million tonnes including 500,000 tonnes in the past week with zone manager Allan Walker reporting quality issues with some grain.

"We're seeing some small grain in both wheat and barley deliveries," he said in the harvest report, adding that the harvest in the zone is also starting to wind down.

Kwinana West zone received 600,000 tonnes in the past week to take total receivals to 1.8 million tonnes, with zone manager Brett Jeffrey reporting the harvest is yielding "a mixed bag in terms of yields and quality."

CBH's southern Albany zone sites have received about 1.4 million tonnes or about 60% of the expected tonnage, with overall quality good and very little grain falling into lower quality grades, zone manager Richard Simonaitis said.

The harvest in the southeast Esperance zone will be wrapped up before Christmas with an expected 1.6 million tonnes received, despite a stop/start harvest in the past week due to rain, zone manager Mick Daw said.