Category: Grains

LANDHOLDERS across Western Australia’s grainbelt have been reminded to manage paddocks to reduce the risk of soil erosion, after strong winds lashed the region recently. Source: Sheep Central WA grainbelt erosion concern from livestock, fire and machinery

In a snapshot of the ‘year that was’ in the Australian grain industry, Grain Central takes a look back over the stories that led the news in 2020. Source: Grain Central Grain Central stories that led the news in 2020

WA grain growers are set to reap more than $6 billion from this year’s harvest, defying dry conditions and a trade war with China to post one of the biggest paydays on record. Source: ABC Grain Farmers in the west reap huge billion crop as harvest ‘surprise’ defies weather, China

Millewa, in the north-west of Victoria, makes a comeback a year after farmers struggled through one of the worst droughts in the region’s history. Source: ABC Livestock ‘Tears of joy’ as grain growers rake in big yields after worst drought in 70 years

One of two rail paths on the Moss Vale-Unanderra line near Dombarton will reopen from this evening in the first move to restore train services to and from Port Kembla. Source: Grain Central Single Kembla line to reopen after grain train derailment

WA harvest is on track to produce close to 16.5 million tonnes a figure that most thought was unachievable following the very dry finishing conditions. Source: Grain Central WA on track for 16.5Mt winter crop

The SunRice Group generated revenue of $507 million for the half-year to October 31,and net profit after tax of $12.1 million. Source: Grain Central SunRice posts .1 million half-year profit

Australia’s rice bowl — the Riverina in southern New South Wales — is expecting to ramp up its production tenfold this season, after generous rainfall helps lift dam levels and boost water allocations. Source: ABC Grain Just add water and rice is back in business for the Riverina

Short covering in the barley and southern wheat markets has supported prices this week, while on logistics, export pace has hit its straps despite two rail derailments. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Market firms as trade covers

First Nations communities to benefit after CSIRO-developed, seaweed-based supplement, which cuts cattle methane emissions by up to 99.9 per cent, wins the international Food Planet Prize. Source: ABC Livestock Global warming breakthrough: Methane-slashing ‘super seaweed’ cattle feed supplement wins m prize

FutureFeed, a livestock feed made from seaweed that reduces methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle by more than 80 per cent has been awarded the world’s largest monetary reward on the global food arena. Source: Beef Central Million-dollar planet prize for CSIRO FutureFeed seaweed innovation

GrainCorp’s bunker storage site at Berrybank in Victoria, which has undergone a $3.5 million expansion that increased capacity from 70,000 tonnes to 130,000t, is in full flight taking in this year’s bumper winter crop. Source: Grain Central GrainCorp’s upgraded Berrybank storage heads for receival record

The birthplace of Australian bulk grain is back in business after GrainCorp reopens its receival site at Ariah Park in the New South Wales Riverina — and the locals couldn’t be happier. Source: ABC Grain New life for ‘birthplace of grain’ as mothballed silos reopen to meet bumper harvest demand

Grain handlers and exporters are in meetings with rail-industry stakeholders to ensure vessels booked to load at Port Kembla’s two terminals in coming weeks can access all the grain they need. Source: Grain Central Kembla derailment forces rerouting to meet export call

CBH Group has posted a net profit after tax of $11 million, with a strong marketing and trading result offsetting an operations loss due in part to a below-average crop for Western Australia in 2019-20. Source: Grain Central CBH posts M profit despite challenging year

A Qube train carrying wheat from Temora to Port Kembla in NSW derailed this morning in an incident which has temporarily closed the Moss Vale to Unanderra freight line. Source: Grain Central Qube train derailed en route from Temora to Port Kembla

A forecast wetter start to 2021 is a positive for most industries, including grain producers who will look to further increase production following a strong 2020, according to Rural Bank. Source: Grain Central Positive outlook for 2021 crop production: Rural Bank

Peninsula Ports has paved the way for its Port Spencer development to become a multi-commodity port with the acquisition of an extra 283 hectares of land. Source: Grain Central Port Spencer eyes potential for hydrogen as well as grain

Rice farmers blame the drought and low allocations of irrigation water for a record low rice harvest in 2020. Panic-buying has also contributed to the shortage. Source: ABC Grain ‘2018 was our last crop’: Australia likely to run out of locally grown rice next month

A whack of grower selling, a logistics-driven easing of nearby demand and a firming Australian dollar have combined to depress prices for wheat and barley in most markets by up to $10 per tonne in the past week. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Values buckle under supply-side pressure

The SunRice Group has today released its inaugural Modern Slavery Statement, which sets out how the company is working to better understand the risks of modern slavery and human rights abuses in its operations and supply chain. Source: Grain Central SunRice Group releases inaugural Modern Slavery Statement

Australia looks set to harvest its second largest grain crop on record, with a massive jump in the production levels of wheat, barley and canola, according to ANZ’s latest Agri Commodity Report. Source: Grain Central Australia on track for second-biggest grain crop: ANZ

The SunRice Group has entered into a securities purchase agreement to acquire 100pc of KJ&Co Brands through its Riviana Foods subsidiary. Source: Grain Central SunRice Group to make strategic acquisition of KJ&Co Brands

Australia’s second largest winter crop and promising rainfall outlook will help drive Australian farmgate production to $65 billion in 2020-21, according to ABARES’ December Agriculture Commodities report released today. Source: Grain Central Bumper harvest helps drive Aust farmgate value to billion: ABARES

Confidence among Australian farmers has rallied to above pre-COVID levels, with the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey revealing sentiment boosted by exceptional seasonal conditions and commodity prices. Source: Grain Central Farmer confidence surges as positive season, prices outweigh COVID, trade concerns

Australian grain production has more than doubled in 30 years despite declining rainfall, thanks to ingenuity and science. Source: ABC Grain Climate change no obstacle as Aussie farmers reap the benefits of a cropping revolution

Extreme heat in the north and some showers in the south have kept grower selling to a minimum this week in a market where the spread between wheat and barley has narrowed. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Wheat, barley spread narrows in thin market

Farmers have battled a blaze in farmland near Geraldton in Western Australia, which burnt across 2,000 hectares of land. Source: ABC Grain Farmland blaze destroys million crop just before harvest

Sumitomo’s sale of the Emerald Grain business to Roc Partners was completed yesterday as the Melbourne-based handler sets in motion its new-crop wheat and barley export program. Source: Grain Central Sumitomo sells Emerald Grain to Roc Partners

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz. Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s November 2020 grain and cropping news quiz

Test your beef industry knowledge with Beef Central’s November 2020 quiz Source: Beef Central Beef Central’s beef quiz – November 2020

Heavy machinery drivers and transporters are frustrated with impatient, dangerous behaviour by motorists, which has peaked as the harvest gets busiest. Source: ABC Grain ‘People take no notice of us’: Truck drivers and machinery operators upset with impatient drivers during busiest harvest in years

Grain growers are on track to produce the second biggest crop ever, following years of drought and as trade relations with China grow frostier. Source: ABC Grain Farmers rejoice as this year’s grain harvest is tipped to set records

ABARES is forecasting a 76pc rise in Australia’s 2020-21 winter crop production to 51.5Mt, second only to the record 56.7Mt in 2016–17. Source: Grain Central Australia on track for near record 51.5Mt winter crop: ABARES

The Earl brothers’ Squib Group has bought both Viterra sites in Millicent to increase canola storage for their expanding crushing plant, now the only one of its kind in South Australia. Source: Grain Central Squib buys Viterra Millicent sites for expanding canola crush

Export demand and limited grower selling are helping to support prices this week as the market heeds a dry and extremely hot week ahead for south-eastern Australia which may prompt some harvest bans. Source: Grain Central Feedgrain Focus: Truck squeeze, weather support prices

Strong canola prices sweetened by bonifications paid for high oil content continue to see Australia’s major winter oilseed as the cash favourite for growers selling at harvest. Source: Grain Central Canola maintains buoyancy amid harvest pressure

Prices in the latest Saudi tender have supported barley values, while wheat prices have softened in the south but firmed in the north. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Saudi price lifts barley, wheat mixed

International border closures left many in the agriculture sector short-staffed this year, but there are a few overseas workers who opted to stay in Australia. Source: ABC Grain Not all overseas harvest workers went home during the pandemic

No-till advocate, agronomist and agricultural communications specialist, John Cameron, has played an instrumental role in the advancement of farming systems throughout the northern farming zone. Source: Grain Central From pioneering no-till advocate to ag communications guru, John Cameron

More than 5 million tonnes of grain has been received so far at GrainCorp sites in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, with that figure expected to top 12 million tonnes by the end of the harvest. Source: ABC Grain Record-breaking day for GrainCorp as silos burst at seams during bumper harvest

A north-west NSW farm contractor is one of many picking up the pieces after his header, worth more than $250,000, went up in flames while harvesting a wheat paddock. Source: ABC Grain Cash, crops up in smoke as farmers deal with spate of ‘heart-stopping’ header fires

WESTERN Australian bulk handler CBH Group has received 1.2 million tonnes of grain in the week to Friday to take its total for the harvest to date to 3.2Mt, in… Source: Grain Central WA harvest receivals hit 3.2Mt: CBH

Australia is likely to see a strong harvest this year, with indications pointing to a bumper crop in the eastern states, and an average crop in WA, according to NAB’s ‘In Focus: Winter Crop Harvest’ report released today. Source: Grain Central Australia on track to deliver above average winter crop: NAB

An undersupply of feed-grade grain in the northern market, showers in Victoria and a stronger Australian dollar have pushed and pulled wheat and barley prices this week as the harvest peak rolls south towards central NSW. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Price moves mixed as harvest rolls south

Fall armyworm is proving difficult to control with conventional insecticides, prompting authorities to reach for suppression strategies that include natural predators and mating disruption techniques. Source: Grain Central Natural predators enlisted in fight against fall armyworm

The 2020 Western Australian harvest has been a stop start affair due to intermittent rainfall events and cool weather over the last few weeks, but is on track to produce 14 million tonnes. Source: Grain Central WA on track to harvest 14Mt as grain yields “better than expected”

GrainCorp has posted a profit from underlying earnings before net interest, depreciation and amortisation of (EBITDA) from continuing operations of $108 million in the year to September 30, a stark contrast to its $107M loss in FY19. Source: Grain Central GrainCorp posts FY20 profit of 8M in season turnaround

A fire which broke out in the cleaning section of Manildra Flour Mills’ complex in the central New South Wales town of Manildra overnight has been contained. Source: Grain Central Overnight fire at Manildra Flour Mills contained

Grain prices have fallen this week as growers accelerate their sales of grain off the header, and amid concerns that China will close its door on further purchases of new-crop Australian wheat. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Prices fall on China concerns, harvest

Ancient native grains could kick off a new industry in north-west NSW, after a year-long study by the University of Sydney finds them to be commercially viable. Source: ABC Grain ‘They taste delicious’: Forget quinoa, Indigenous native grains could be all the rage

Farmers harvesting promising winter crops can play their part in providing vital food supplies to the hungry by donating a portion of their harvest to Foodbank. Source: Grain Central Share your harvest with Foodbank to help fight hunger in Australia

The growing appetite for plant-based meat substitutes brings opportunity for Australia’s grain, oilseeds and pulse sector, according to a new Rabobank report. Source: Grain Central Grain poised to capitalise on plant-based meat market

A fourth season of industrial hemp trials will go ahead in the South Australia’s south east as the industry continues to grow momentum with approved licences doubling since the crop’s 2018 introduction. Source: Grain Central Industrial hemp licences double in SA

Starting the day with a bowl of cereal, or finishing it with a cold beer? Thank a farmer. Source: ABC Grain ‘We could make a billion Weet-Bix’: 2020 is set to be the biggest food harvest in years

Harvest is well under way across the Western Australian grainbelt, and bulk handler CBH Group has taken in more than 1Mt, with more receival sites expected to open this week. Source: Grain Central WA harvest deliveries pass 1Mt: CBH

Late rains in Victoria’s main cropping regions coupled with a drier-than-normal winter in the south-west have the state on track to produce near-record wheat and barley crops. Source: Grain Central Victoria on track for near-record wheat, barley crops

Keep up to date with Australian cropping industry developments with Grain Central’s monthly quiz. Source: Grain Central Grain Central’s October 2020 grain and cropping news quiz

Competition for a limited amount of available grain has heightened this week amid widespread storms and showers in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales Source: Grain Central Feedgrain Focus: Nearby jumps as rain tightens supply

Incitec Pivot Fertilisers has signed a long-term agreement which sees its Nutrient Advantage Laboratory become the exclusive supplier of laboratory services to Precision Agriculture Pty Ltd. Source: Grain Central Incitec Pivot/Precision Ag announce new lab services agreement

A partnership of grain growers and key players in the supply chain has been formed to combat greenhouse gas emissions and help farmers become more resilient in the face of climate change. Source: Grain Central Wheat power partnership to tackle greenhouse gas, build resilience

Queensland’s grain industry is bouncing back after multiple seasons were missed because of the drought and the state relied on grain imports from Western Australia to feed livestock. Source: ABC Grain First south Queensland grain crop since 2016 ends reliance on WA imports

Queensland’s grain harvest is more than half completed and there’s a lot of chatter about how a new wheat variety has performed. Source: ABC Grain ‘Like a couple of extra paddocks’: New wheat variety impresses with high yields

Victoria is allowing operators to carry more grain per trip to boost road-transport efficiency during the upcoming harvest, but the Murray Basin Rail Project has fallen short of its objectives in boosting the state’s rail capacity. Source: Grain Central Trucks gain, rail languishes ahead of big Victorian crop

Australia is on track for a major recovery in grain production, with the winter harvest set to come in at an above-average 47.4 million tonnes, according to Rabobank’s later crop report. Source: Grain Central Australia on track for above-average winter crop: Rabobank

There’s a glow atop the paddocks in northern New South Wales, a sight locals and farmers haven’t seen since 2016. It’s header drivers working into the night to get the most important crop in years off as quickly as possible. Source: ABC Grain ‘Waiting for a crop for too long’: Excitement brews as growers… Read more »

Wheat prices have strengthened in the past week as harvesting growers focus on selling barley for cash and holding their high-quality and high-protein wheat in a rising market. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: Wheat strengthens on limited grower selling

Dry spring conditions through the heart of the WA wheatbelt have stripped about 1.5Mt from the state’s winter crop estimates in the past month, according to GIWA’s latest crop report released today. Source: Grain Central Cool finish limits slide in WA winter crop yield potential, now pegged at 13Mt

Australian winter crop production is forecast at 44.7 million tonnes, nine per cent above average and a 49pc year-on-year increase, according to Rural Bank Insights Update October 2020 release today. Source: Grain Central Winter crop pegged at 44.7Mt, 9pc above average: Rural Bank

Growers urged to look out for insect classified as a serious threat to Australia’s grain, rice, cotton, horticultural and sugar industries and can feed on up to 350 plant species. Source: ABC Grain After decimating crops across the world, the fall armyworm has moved into new Australian territory

‘Hard seltzers’ are shaking up American drinking culture, but it’s a category of drink Australians are not familiar with yet. Will it be a fad, flop or the future of booze? Source: ABC Grain Hard seltzer is a US alcohol trend heading Down Under. But what is it and is it a fad?

Nearby values for northern wheat and barley have succumbed to harvest pressure, and nearby cottonseed prices have weakened with them, but southern markets are firming based on rising world values for wheat. Source: Beef Central Feedgrain Focus: North drops, southern wheat firms