Grain samples herald start of harvest

"We've been getting canola samples in for the last few days and we've received about 50 tonnes so far," Geraldton zone manager Duncan Gray said.

"Once one person starts delivering everybody will start to follow so we're expecting to see some more coming in over the next three to five days."

The CBH terminal at Northampton was opened on Wednesday and growers north of Binnu will more than likely be delivering grain to the site in the next five to seven days after testing their samples for the last week.

"The quality of the canola delivered hasn't been too bad so far," Mr Gray said. "But of course it's hard to gauge with the small amount delivered."

Mr Gray described this year as being below average with the Geraldton zone average recorded as 1.8m tonnes disregarding the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons when the area experienced significant drought.

"At a guess I'd say there'd be between 1.2m and 1.3m hectares planted in the Geraldton zone this year," Mr Gray said.

"We received 2.45m tonnes last year and we're looking at about 1.4m tonnes this year.

"Many growers are right on the edge even though we have an advantage over the Kwinana zone this year.

"It's the fear of the unknown, until growers get out into the paddocks they don't know if there's grain in the heads, what kind of quality they'll be rewarded with and there's always the question of finance for next year."

CBH terminals in the Geraldton zone usually begin receiving grain during the first week of October.

"Within the next 10-14 days we'll see receival points like Carnamah and Mingenew start to open up," Mr Gray said.

"Hopefully growers remember that boots and vests must now be worn on site and there's also the tailgate safety compliance issue which growers must remember."

According to CBH Kwinana zone manager Brett Jeffrey, a total of 68 of the 110 receival sites won't open this year.

"Our seasonal staff numbers will be down by 60 per cent which isn't good for the local communities because we can't employ their children this year," he said.

The current forecast for this season's total crop has dropped again to 5.9 million tonnes which, if accurate at harvest, will make it WA's fourth smallest crop in the last 20 years.

Over the next few weeks grain receivals will continue to be downgraded as dry seasonal conditions worsen the outlook for much of the Wheatbelt.

In the 2009-10 season, around 11m tonnes were delivered to CBH bins throughout the State which was slightly less than the expected estimate of 11.8m, due to a dry finish in the Kwinana and Albany zones.

Widespread rainfall in early October last year delayed the start of harvest to October 4 in the Geraldton zone, but after the season gained momentum, the majority of the grain was delivered to the bins during December.

This year it was the lack of rainfall which prompted the early start and it will bring forward the harvests of even the southern-most growers.

Mr Jeffrey said his zone had been the worst affected by the drought.

"From our recent grower meetings we've estimated we will receive about 1.6m tonnes this year, that's down on our figures from last year, by in excess of five million tonnes," he said.

It was too early for Mr Jeffrey to comment on the quality of grain in the area but he was almost sure there would be some issues based on the quality problems seen in the Geraldton zone.

"We've received calls from growers at Wongan Hills who will be ready to start harvesting their canola by the end of the week although the main harvest won't start for another two to three weeks," he said.

"Farmers are varied in their outlook, some are optimistic but then there are those around Kulin who have written off this year's harvest and are looking to next year.

"The western areas like Bolgart, Calingiri and Moora and those to the south like Williams, Wandering, Narrogin and Wickepin haven't experienced this kind of environment before, so some are unsure about what to expect."

CBH estimated the 2010-11 harvest will net only 5.9mt in total, with 1.4mt from Geraldton zone, 1.5mt from Esperance, 1.4mt from Albany and 1.6mt from the Kwinana zone.

The warm windy conditions throughout much of the Wheatbelt over the weekend didn't do much for growers in southern areas who were hoping to receive some much needed rain to finish off their crops and push back the start of their harvests.

Because of the dry year CBH will open the Kwinana terminals to direct receivals but growers must register their interest by contacting the terminal direct at the CBH Growers Service Centre on 1800 199 083.

"We'll open it up for prescribed grains on prescribed days," Mr Jeffrey said.

"Growers will need to register their interest, no matter how small, as soon as possible in order for the CBH Group to get the relevant information out to them."