MORE than 10 million tonnes has been delivered through the CBH network, as growers across the State edge towards the end of their harvest programs.
As of Friday last week CBH had received 78 per cent of its estimated deliveries at 9.2mt, with another 1mt received over the weekend pushing total deliveries past the 10mt mark.
It’s welcome news for WA growers, who in August were not expected to produce more than 10.1mt according to the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA).
Close to 2mt of grain was delivered in the seven days to last Thursday, with almost half coming from the Kwinana zone.
Kwinana zone manager Andrew Mencshelyi said it had been a busy three weeks with several receival sites breaking daily records including Bulyee, Corrigin, Cadoux, Cunderdin, York and Dulyalbin.
“The odd short rain event that slowed us down for a couple of days, but for the most part we’ve received more than a million tonnes for the Kwinana zone per week for the past three weeks, so that’s pretty good going,” Mr Mencshelyi said.
“We think we’ve probably got about a million to go, and hopefully 80pc of that can be in by Christmas.”
Mr Mencshelyi said the Kwinana zone was expecting to reach 5.5mt by the end of harvest, which was close to its five-year average.
While areas such as York had already exceeded estimates, regions to the north and north east of the zone would finish the season well below average.
“In the Koorda area they received 1.7mt last year and they will get probably 550,000t this year, so well below average,” Mr Mencshelyi said.
“They’ve had more rain now than they did during the season.”
Mr Mencshelyi said isolated weather events had not had a major impact on grain quality, although some sprouted wheat had been sampled in coastal areas of the zone.
“We’re monitoring it closely, there’s the odd patch of receivals that come through where there’s some visible sprouting but it’s still pretty solid in terms of its quality,” he said.
“Probably the worst is right on the coast across from Regans Ford in that area, so we may introduce a feed stack there, but that’s the only place that’s got that issue.”
Low protein had also been impacting cereal quality, with up to 50pc of wheat delivered so far graded as ASW.
Mr Mencshelyi said some bins would begin to close in the northern region of the zone within the next 10 days.
Meanwhile several sites have already closed in the Geraldton zone, with Mullewa, Mingenew, Carnamah, Moonyoonooka, Northampton and the port the only sites left open.
Estimates in Geraldton have been surpassed by 15pc and were last week sitting at more than 1.36mt.
While many growers have finished harvest in the region, 182,000t was delivered in the week to last Thursday.
During the same time Esperance received 420,000t, taking its total deliveries to 80pc of its estimates to 2.2mt
Esperance zone manager Mick Daw said many growers in the region were starting to return headers to their sheds.
“A lot of growers have finished harvest and are carting grain stored on farm,” Mr Daw said.
“A run of good weather for a week will see many more growers finish up for the year.”
Inclement weather has also impacted harvest progress in the Albany zone, which still had close to 40pc of its crop left to be delivered at the end of last week.
Close to 400,000t was in the week to Thursday, pushing the zone total to 1.76mt.
The majority of canola had been received, with barley at 70pc of estimated receivals and growers starting to transition to their wheat programs.
Grain quality is good with 35pc of barley achieving malt grade, and canola oil averaging in the high 40pc range.
Wheat receivals are now at 20pc of estimated tonnes with reports of good quality.
