Harvest well under way as grain handling giant reports more than five million tonnes collected

Harvest is well under way across WA’s grain growing regions, with the State’s grain handling giant reporting more than five million tonnes collected and counting.

CBH Group has counted 5.1 million tonnes collected across receival sites in its five zones, with the Esperance Zone leading the way with 1.35Mt in the bins.

WA is predicted to produce 23.93Mt for this year’s winter crop season.

Kwinana North Zone follows closely behind with 1.21Mt collected while the Geraldton Zone is hot on its tail with 1.20Mt collected.

Receivals in the Kwinana South Zone and Albany Zone are picking up with 819,000 tonnes and 581,000, respectively, received in CBH’s bins.

Canola remains the main grain received across the network so far, but as it begins to wind down barley and wheat receivals start to pick up.

The first load of faba beans in the Albany Zone was collected at the Mirambeena site last week.

CBH chief operations officer Mick Daw said the grain tonnages were being received faster than previous years.

“Spring weather will often interrupt harvest,” he said.

“What matters is how quickly the network gets moving again, and this week it did.

“Growers were back in their headers as soon as the weather cleared, and our teams were ready for them.

“With a good forecast this week, we expect receivals to build again. Harvests are getting bigger and faster, and we’ve invested in the network to keep up — we’re ready for those bigger days.”

Mr Daw urged growers and staff to be aware of their safety at receival sites during harvest.

“As always, please remember to think and act safely,” he said.

“Harvest is always a busy time, but we must put the safety of our teams, growers and everyone that comes to our sites above everything else.

“Drive to the rules of the site, be vigilant and respectful of everyone on the ground.”