Category: Grains

AGT has been confirmed as the successful bidder on germplasm previously held by Durum Breeders Australia, and will use to help develop new varieties for Australian durum-growing areas. Source: Grain Central AGT confirmed as licensee for Australian durum breeding

A new industry partnership between Grain Producers Australia and GrainCorp has been launched today to help boost safety standards across east coast bulk grain receival sites. Source: Grain Central New partnership to deliver harvest safety gains

AAAX and ARIA Commodities will be shipping bulk grain out of WA for the first time in February now that the joint venture has secured access to three of CBH Group’s four terminals. Source: Grain Central AAAX joins WA bulk exporters

Just when you thought things were getting worse for Australian agriculture, the industry is now predicting a record year of production. How has this happened?  Source: ABC Grain How Australian farmers have gone from doom to bloom

The agricultural sector is looking at another record-breaking year, with the gross value of production (GVP) forecast to reach $73 billion in 2021-22, according to ABARES’ latest estimates. Source: Grain Central Crop production drives Australian ag to record-busting, billion year: ABARES

Australia is on track for a big and very valuable winter crop. Farmers will have their fingers crossed it all goes to plan. Source: ABC Grain Australia’s winter crop harvest has begun. It should be a bumper, but anything could happen

Prices for wheat and barley have taken a tumble in the past week to reflect a surge in grower and trade selling and a downtrend in Northern Hemisphere cereal values. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Prices drop on selling pressure, offshore lead

A new guide will assist landholders identify pasture dieback and some common pasture disorders and diseases and help raise awareness of the condition that kills sown and native summer growing pastures. Source: Beef Central New ute guide to identify pasture dieback  

A new report says Australia may have reached a peak in terms of land used for broadacre cropping, but it also predicts production will continue to rise. Source: ABC Grain What is ‘peak acreage’ and has Australia hit it?

Plans to grow thousands of hectares of cotton on the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory have been referred to the Environment Protection Authority. Source: ABC Livestock Large cotton plans for the Barkly Tablelands under review by EPA

CBH Fertiliser will build a new liquid and granular fertiliser storage facility near Kwinana Grain Terminal in Western Australia that will significantly expand the CBH Fertiliser business. Source: Grain Central CBH Fertiliser to build new store at Kwinana

AUSTRALIAN logistics major Qube Holdings Limited has entered into an agreement to acquire Newcastle Agri Terminal (NAT) from the existing shareholders CBH, Viterra Australia, Mitsubishi’s Riverina, and CTC Terminals. In… Source: Grain Central Qube to acquire Newcastle Agri Terminal

Concerns about a wet early harvest in eastern Australia have exporters unusually active on the last of this season’s wheat and barley, as domestic consumers keep buying to a minimum now that new crop is within sight in the north. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Export push lifts northern wheat

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz. Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s August 2021 grain and cropping news quiz

Growers who have barley crops which were adversely affected by the Overwatch are being invited to register their interest in a class action against the herbicide’s manufacturer. Source: Grain Central ‘Critical mass’ of farmers sought for Overwatch class action

Mice numbers are on the rise again throughout Australia’s cropping zones, threatening to reach damaging numbers through spring as winter crops move into grain set and farmers begin the summer crop plant. Source: Grain Central Surge in mice numbers points to spring outbreak

Construction of the NT’s first gin has started, and Namoi Cotton has signed an MOU with the Kimberley Cotton Company, while plans for a fifth gin in southern NSW appear to be on hold. Source: Grain Central NT cotton gin build starts, WA gets MOU

Buoyant cotton prices and high water levels in most of the valleys’ storage dams have set growers up for a promising season as sowing of this year’s crop gathers pace in the northern growing regions. Source: Grain Central Cotton prices, water availability drive grower optimism

A nationwide operation has been launched today, aiming to bolster the supply of local workers to help deliver this year’s bumper grains harvest and relieve pressure on farming communities. Source: Grain Central Operation Grain Harvest Assist calls for worker reinforcements

A new variety of durum bred at Tamworth will be available to growers next year amid an Australian market which reflects the global shortfall created by Canada’s troubled year and buoyant Italian demand. Source: Grain Central Mataroi set for release as Italy’s durum interest prevails

For the first time in his farming career, Michael O’Callaghan will use mouse baits to try to protect his canola crop from the hordes of mice invading WA’s grain belt.  Source: ABC Grain Mice damaging bumper Wheatbelt crops

Australia’s biggest grain-growing region is on track for a bumper year, but extreme wet conditions are causing some headaches for farmers.  Source: ABC Grain Run on crop-dusting services puts bumper season in jeopardy

To seed a crop in August is extremely rare in Western Australia, but farmers on the state’s south coast are doing it anyway to try and salvage an exceptionally wet season. Source: ABC Grain Crop seeding started six months ago and these farmers are still going

WA grain growers expect to emerge from extremely damp conditions in some areas to deliver a record season, but risks and challenges remain.  Source: ABC Grain Australia’s biggest grains state on track for record harvest

Offshore markets driving local grain values to new season highs have prompted growers to advance their new-crop selling now that target prices are being hit. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Coverage switches to new crop

A company best known for its wine production now lays claim to being the best rice grower in the country. Source: ABC Grain Water savings a winner for rice grower of the year

The Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) has developed a Grain Sustainability Certification Scheme to help grain growers expand access to international markets. Source: Grain Central AOF develops Grain Sustainability Certification Scheme

Potential total grain production for Western Australia is firm at around 20 million tonnes heading into spring, according to the latest crop report from GIWA. Source: Grain Central WA winter crop firming up for record 20 million tonnes

A trio of innovative farmers in Western Australia has created a production niche growing wheat-free oats for the burgeoning health food market. Source: Grain Central Innovative WA growers tap into wheat-free oats market

GrainCorp has lifted its guidance for 2020-21 by 18.5pc to reflect a record intake of 16Mt, strong exports and healthy margins. Source: Grain Central GrainCorp lifts FY21 earnings guidance to 0-0M

v2food founder Nick Hazell will be sharing his insights into how the business has grown its markets through his address to the Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) to be held as a virtual-only event on September 6-7. Source: Grain Central AGIC 2021: v2food brings value-adding insights

Excellent seasonal conditions and strong prices are fuelling a positive outlook for Australia’s cotton sector, with expectations next year’s crop could be one of the largest on record, according to Rabobank. Source: Grain Central Are there any ‘catches’ for Australian cotton?

A Riverina farmer takes to a social media platform to recruit harvest workers.  Source: ABC Grain Southern NSW farmer puts the call out on social media for harvest workers

Wheat values have risen by $5/t or more in the past week on the back of stronger global values, but the domestic market has traded sideways based on more subdued export and local demand. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Offshore strength lifts wheat values

The publishers of Grain Central are in the early stages of identifying candidates for a senior sales and marketing role within the business, extending across the Beef Central, Sheep Central and Grain Central websites. Source: Grain Central Recruitment: Grain Central is hiring

CBH Group has awarded its grain-haulage contract to Aurizon and cut short its 10-year agreement with Watco which was due to end in April ahead of what is expected to be another bumper WA harvest. Source: Grain Central Aurizon clinches minimum six-year CBH rail contract

T-Ports is building a grain-receival site at Kimba, its third on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, and augmenting storage at its Lock site in time for the upcoming harvest. Source: Grain Central T-Ports adds bunker site at Kimba, extra storage at Lock

Australia’s grain handlers have put the word out for harvest workers to sign up early in preparation for what is potentially going to be a bumper 2021/22 harvest. Source: Grain Central Grain handlers put call out for harvest workers

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz. Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s July 2021 grain and cropping news quiz

A new research centre will be established in Adelaide to train the next generation of scientists to develop more resilient crops. Source: Grain Central New centre to train experts in crop resilience

A virus that oozes out through a caterpillar’s skin before exterminating it is being investigated as a way to combat an invasive insect that’s devastating some Australian crops. Source: ABC Grain Invasive insect fall armyworm on the march, but scientists fight back with an oozing virus and an egg-attacking wasp

The winter cropping season seems to be coming good in South Australia with recent rains, and the forecast of more to come, lifting crop prospects after a tough start in many regions. Source: Grain Central SA winter crop turns the corner on late rains

Sea containers packed in a khapra beetle target risk country and unpacked in a rural grain-growing area will be required to undergo treatment offshore. Source: Grain Central New measures for khapra beetle treatment

Unigrain has unveiled plans to build a pulse-fractionation plant at its Smeaton site which is already a volume user of faba beans and field peas. Source: Grain Central Unigrain to build pulse fractionation plant at Smeaton

The 2021 Australian Grains Industry Conference comes to Melbourne early in September and is set to welcome virtual and in-person delegates under its theme: Reconnect, Reignite and Revitalise. Source: Grain Central Hybrid AGIC offers industry insights, chance to reconnect

Markets have softened in the past week with traders more active on selling than growers who are busy spreading urea and booking new-crop canola. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Buying interest latches on to central NSW

Australia’s cotton harvest is wrapping up with the last of the picking in southern NSW likely to bring total production for the season to 2.8 million bales. Source: Grain Central Pickers round out 2.8-million-bale cotton season

As US and Canadian crops wilt in the heat, Australian crops are flourishing and another boom season beckons. Source: ABC Grain Crops in the US and Canada are failing, pushing global grain prices higher

Australian biotech company, MicroBioGen, has successfully produced ethanol and high-value feedstock from non-food plant waste, such as crop residues and sugarcane pulp. Source: Grain Central Yeast discovery set to boost 2G biofuel production from crop residues

Salus Mutual Management is proposing a new financial product where growers prepared to pay around $1.50/t per annum on grain contracts can protect themselves against insolvency risk. Source: Grain Central Planned growers’ mutual to counter counterparty risk

Despite a delayed start in southern states and concerns around mice, Rural Bank has forecast a positive outlook for cropping in its mid-year outlook released today. Source: Grain Central Positive outlook for cropping as ag performs strongly through 2021: Rural Bank

Another rain front crossing the Western Australian grainbelt is consolidating the excellent start to the grain growing season in WA, setting the scene for another potentially record crop. Source: Grain Central WA on track for another record winter crop

Designing food for space was once the stuff of science fiction movies but scientists in South Australia are now doing just that. Source: ABC Grain Scientists on a mission to feed astronauts bound for Mars

New-crop wheat and barley prices have softened in the past week and grower selling has increased as its yield prospects consolidate. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Grower selling ups as season consolidates

How many tonnes of grain do you need to buy a farm ute compared to the old days? Source: Grain Central The Hilux Index: Comparing historical grain prices to the cost of a ute

Feedgrain markets have traded steady to softer in the past week, with rain in northern NSW tightening logistics and helping to support values. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Muddy north firm, south soft

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz. Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s June 2021 grain and cropping news quiz

Plans for a waterside container terminal at the Port of Newcastle have suffered a serious setback with today’s announcement that the Federal Court has dismissed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s case against NSW Ports. Source: Grain Central Setback for Newcastle as ACCC case against NSW Ports dismissed

A THREE-WEEK throttling of rail paths into Patrick Australia’s Port Botany container terminal is slapping unforeseen charges of up to $20 per tonne on grain and pulse exports going out of Sydney. Source: Sheep Central Botany rail choke exacerbates Sydney container crisis

Limited rail access to Patrick Australia’s Sydney container terminal is thwarting the ability of agricultural exports to get to market via Port Botany. Source: Beef Central Botany rail choke exacerbates Sydney container crisis

Australian rice marketer SunRice has posted a net profit after tax of $18.3M in its year to April 30, and is confident of an improved result in FY22 thanks largely to a much bigger Australian crop. Source: Grain Central SunRice FY21 profit of .3M, dn 19pc on yr

Nearby northern barley bucked the softening trend this week in values as widespread rain and weakening offshore markets allowed the feedgrain market to fall. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Values soften on rain, offshore moves

The parent company of Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, CNH Industrial, has acquired Raven Industries, a US-based leader in precision agriculture technology. Source: Grain Central CNH acquires precision ag company