Category: Grains

One of Australia’s largest seed companies is changing names, with Heritage Seeds to be known as Barenbrug from October 28, 2019. Source: Grain Central Heritage Seeds to change name to Barenbrug

Canada’s PSP Investments has entered into an agreement with NSW irrigator and cotton and nut producer, Webster Limited, to extend its ownership of ordinary shares from 19.1 per cent at present to 100pc. Source: Grain Central Webster to delist if Canada’s PSP buy-out proceeds

An Adelaide start-up could soon be producing drinking straws made with Australian-grown straw, replacing the need for plastic ones. Source: ABC Grain ‘Rye-cycled’ natural straws helping environment and farmers in war on single-use plastic

Hot weather has brought on the South Australian harvest which is now underway in the upper Yorke Peninsula with the first load delivered yesterday into Port Pirie. Source: Grain Central First new crop grain delivered to Viterra network

Feedgrain prices were up this week as consumer and supplier haggle over the cheapest new-crop prices for earliest possible delivery. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Prices up in thin market

Pacific Seeds has completed the installation of a state-of-the-art $2.4 million seed processing plant at the company’s site at Toowoomba in southern Queensland. Source: Grain Central Pacific Seeds completes .4 million custom seed processing line

One of Australia’s largest food exporters, SunRice, cuts more than 30 regional staff after producing its second-lowest rice crop. Source: ABC Grain SunRice sheds more jobs after second lowest crop on record

Second-lowest rice crop on record has forced Sunrice to offload 130 staff and reconfigure milling operations. Source: Grain Central Sunrice cuts staff, reconfigures milling after second-lowest crop on record

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s September grains and cropping news quiz

A NEW perennial legume with the potential to revolutionise grazing in sandy infertile pastoral areas will be available to Australian and South African farmers next year. Source: Sheep Central New perennial legume destined for poor soils

Western Australia’s CBH Group is giving its growers a rebate of $1 per tonne on its 2018-19 deliveries, but is forecasting a zero rebate for 2019-20. Source: Grain Central CBH Group delivers million operations rebate

Sustainable farming for this Eyre Peninsula family means organic, holistic practices and homeschooling four children. Source: ABC Grain Natural, holistic farming and homeschooling: the family living the good life on Eyre Peninsula

Advances in genetically-modified plant technology and a better understanding of how to grow the crop in a tropical environment have reignited efforts to develop a cotton industry in northern Australia. Source: Grain Central Cotton makes a comeback in Australia’s north

NSW grain and cotton grower Gus O’Brien has a straightforward philosophy when it comes to successful staff retention: ‘pay well, provide reasonable accommodation and give them some rein’. Source: Grain Central Retaining staff in tough times: a grower’s perspective

The Queensland town of Monto that was drought declared and had the local mine close on the same day is determined to see the community survive. Source: ABC Grain Drought declared on same day as mine is mothballed, yet locals refuse to buckle

Ongoing challenging conditions mean eastern Australia will likely face another season of grain imports from WA and overseas, with new season crop prices reflective of this reality, according to the latest NAB outlook. Source: Grain Central Declining winter crop forecasts reflect drop in commodities index: NAB

Twenty-two of Australia’s leading primary producers focused on a more innovative, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector have been awarded Nuffield Farming Scholarships for 2020. Source: Grain Central Nuffield Scholarships for 2020 announced

The world wheat price is forecast to average 6 per cent lower in 2019–20 at US$218 per tonne while world wheat production is forecast to reach a record 766 million tonnes, according to ABARES Agricultural Commodities report released today. Source: Grain Central Drought, feedgrain demand factor into mixed commodity outlook: ABARES

Poor performance at work can impact your career progression and may lead to unhappiness in the workplace and lower remuneration. What are employers looking for in an employee? Source: Grain Central Recruitment: What type of employee are you?

A special, drought support bus is touring the hard-hit regions of NSW, bringing front-line drought assistance and information to farming communities. Source: Grain Central Drought support kicks in as NSW dry tightens grip

Hugh Bowman is one of the world’s best jockeys and now he is set to be immortalised in art, in his home town of Dunedoo, alongside champion mare Winx. Source: ABC Grain Winx and her jockey Hugh Bowman to be immortalised on his hometown silo

Pilot Malting Australia’s malting facility in WA has been granted accreditation for future malt barley varieties. Source: Grain Central Malting facility accreditation opens opportunities for barley

Australian grain growers will produce one of their smallest crops of the decade this year. Source: ABC Grain Poor harvest forecast for Australian grain growers

Prospects for Australian winter crop production in 2019–20 deteriorated over winter because of unfavourable growing conditions in some regions, according to ABARES’ latest crop report. Source: Grain Central National crop outlook varies as eastern dry grinds on: ABARES

A tough start to spring is cribbing tonnage from the eastern Australian cereal crop as hay-cutting advances on struggling crops, and supports prices for cereals in nearby and new-crop slots. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Prices firm as thin crops turn to hay

Growers rather than traders appear to be shouldering the burden of the latest insolvency in the grain industry, which has come with the demise of GrainWorks Australia. Source: Grain Central Growers look to be hardest hit by GrainWorks insolvency

It’s not just the members of AMPS who are reaping the benefits of up to 20 years of production data through a business model which allows investment in ongoing research. Source: Grain Central Model puts AMPS at forefront of production research

Distinguished research scientist, John Angus, believes deepening subsurface acidification and low brigalow phosphorus are two of the most pressing issues in Australian farming that urgently need addressing. Source: Grain Central Donald medallist calls for urgent action on acidification, phosphorus

Values for WA wheat ex Brisbane have eased for current-crop and fallen considerably in new-crop slots, while in NSW time is running out for crops with limited yield prospects. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Trade slows as crunch nears for borderline crops

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz. Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s August 2019 grains and cropping news quiz

While many grain silos around Australia are getting large-scale mural makeovers, one century-old structure is still operational, little-known and unadorned. Source: ABC Grain This silo is special, even though it has no mural

The Australian Agronomy Conference has drawn more than 300 agronomists, advisers and researchers to Wagga Wagga to explore the latest research under the theme, ‘Cells to Satellites’. Source: Grain Central Australian Agronomy Conference celebrates farming advances + PICS

The SunRice Group has reported consolidated revenue of $1.2 billion for the year ending April 30, 2019, which is up 1.3 per cent on the prior year, and a Net Profit After Tax of $32.8 million, down 27 per cent on the previous year. Source: Grain Central Drought, pricing cut Sunrice profit 27pc

Strong winds, warm days, some frosts and no rain have battered the yield potential of crops, but January delivered WA boat barley is buying demand in feedlot rations in southern Queensland. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Barley shapes up in fuzzy new-crop picture

With SA and Tasmania recently in the news over their GM policies, debate over GM crops continues. Many people’s opinions relate to their views on what constitutes acceptable risk, and whether they see GM foods as substantially equivalent to non-GM foods. Source: Grain Central GM crops: to ban or not to ban? That’s not… Read more »

South Australia’s move to lift its moratorium on GM crops has been largely welcomed by industry groups, and leaves Tasmania as the only Australian state with a GM ban still in place. Source: Grain Central Tasmania’s GM ban stands as SA move largely welcomed

A new funding agreement has been announced to support the development of a northern Australian broadacre cropping industry. Source: Grain Central New projects tap the pulse of northern Australia

A strong, late break in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia has led to good winter crop condition reports, with the latest ABARES crop outlook predicting a slightly improved wheat volume of 21.2 million tonnes (Mt). Source: Beef Central Fickle season confounds national crop estimates

Perdaman plans to build a fertiliser plant in north-west NSW using power from Santos’ proposed Narrabri Gas Project. Source: Grain Central Perdaman eyes NSW fertiliser market with Narrabri plant

Spring rain’s a must, despite good early conditions for winter crops in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia the dry outlook is concerning says NAB. Source: Grain Central Fickle season confounds national crop estimates: NAB

The winter crop growing season in Western Australia hangs in the balance for the majority of the grainbelt. Source: Grain Central WA season hangs in the balance

Some growers in NSW are weighing up their options for grain, grazing or hay, while cereals trade flat to lower in the feed market to reflect Monday’s drop in US futures. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Inverse stymies sales, prices ease on US tumble

There are plenty of barriers, but if we really want to we can feed the world on plant protein, largely from legumes. Source: Grain Central It’ll be hard, but we can feed the world with plant protein

In the Adelaide Hills, the age-old craft of whiskey-making joins with some of Australia’s ancient bush foods to create a thoroughly modern drop. Source: ABC Grain Wattle seed whiskey made with age-old techniques to create a modern flavour

Can agriculture meet the food demands of the world into the future and do it in a sustainable way? Source: Grain Central Can we feed the world without wrecking the planet?

Mouse numbers remain low in all areas across Australia, and will continue to decline through winter until spring when breeding starts. Source: Grain Central Dry winter keeps mouse numbers in check

Agriculture is now undergoing its third major revolution from mechanical and scientific revolutions into the digital agriculture age, leading to an explosive demand for candidates possessing technology skills to fill the job market. Source: Grain Central Recruitment: Technology adoption in agriculture creates changing trends in jobs market

BASF plans to launch its first new wheat seed varieties onto the Australian market in 2021, working with Seednet as its commercial partner. Source: Grain Central BASF to enter Australian wheat seed market

Drought-stricken farmers are calling for failing grain trader GrainPro to be wound up in a bid to receive some of the $6 million dollars they are owed. Source: ABC Grain ‘In hell at the moment’: GrainPro boss vows to pay back every cent to farmers

Rain this week in most South Australian and Victorian growing regions, and pockets of southern NSW, have prompted some forward selling of new-crop wheat and barley as yield prospects consolidate. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Grower sales ramp up on southern rain

The perilous state of Australia’s fuel reserves could threaten supplies to the cropping sector as farmers head into the busy haymaking and grain harvest seasons. Source: Beef Central Fuel reserves run low as peak farming season approaches

The perilous state of Australia’s fuel reserves could threaten supplies to the cropping sector as farmers head into the busy haymaking and grain harvest seasons. Source: Grain Central Fuel reserves run low as peak farming season approaches

Farrer Medal winner Tim Reeves has championed the researcher-farmer relationship to bring about constructive practices, and called out some widespread farming practices as unsustainable. ..Read More Source: Grain Central Farrer Medal winner Tim Reeves calls for greater sustainability

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz…Read More Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s July 2019 grains and cropping news quiz

Delta Agribusiness has completed the acquisition of the independent rural services business North West Ag Services and AGRIvision consultants (NWA-AVC) that operates in the Wimmera and Mallee regions of Victoria…Read More Source: Grain Central Delta Ag acquires major Victorian ag services business

The Australian Grains Industry Conference kicked off in Melbourne today as the national forum for those in the supply chain to gather with international visitors and analysts to talk about what lies ahead…Read More Source: Grain Central AGIC brings together 500 delegates to navigate the future + PICS

The NFF has launched the ‘Telling Our Story’ initiative to build a better connect between rural Australia and urban communities and encourage a multi-tiered approach from government to help farmers build resilience and a bright future for agriculture…Read More Source: Grain Central Reputation, resilience feature in NFF’s drought-hit picture: AGIC

Wagga Wagga-based grain-trading company GrainPro is continuing to trade now that it has entered voluntary external administration…Read More Source: Grain Central GrainPro trades on under voluntary administration

Ridley has officially opened its extrusion plant at Westbury, and Tasmanian Stockfeed Services has announced plans to build a new feedmill at its Devonport site…Read More Source: Grain Central One Tasmanian feed plant opens, another on its way

The excellence and achievements of the Australian cotton industry over the past year were recognised at the 2019 Australian Cotton Industry Awards last night…Read More Source: Grain Central Cotton’s high achievers recognised at awards + PICS