Agriculture
27 November, 2023
Quality looking good as local harvest ramps up
AT LEAST 200,000 tonnes of grain is expected to be delivered at Boort Grain Co-op by Christmas. The co-op is into the third week of receivals with manager Jon Bucknall saying harvest had started at least a fortnight earlier after late spring...
AT LEAST 200,000 tonnes of grain is expected to be delivered at Boort Grain Co-op by Christmas.
The co-op is into the third week of receivals with manager Jon Bucknall saying harvest had started at least a fortnight earlier after late spring temperatures in the 30s.
He said crops were better this season, not affected by floods, and quality was looking strong.
An estimated 50 per cent of the barley crops is being delivered for malting, the other half for feed.
Mr Bucknall said malt barley was being stored in bunkers by their varieties.
“We have the space to do it ... smaller bunkers for niche varieties It makes commercial sense,” he said. “The maltsters want variety and purity (for their recipes).”
Mr Bucknall said early grain receivals have been cleaner and brighter this year.
“The test weights are a lot better and the grain plumper,” Mr Bucknall said.
He believes the recent lifting of tariffs by China will make little difference to the the amount of barley exported from Australia.
“There’s the same amount of barley to be exported. It is just where it will be is going,” he said.
“The wheat and barley yields in our part of the state are good.
“The canola is looking to have good oil but we haven’t taken in enough yet to have a more definite indication.”
Prices at Boort on Tuesday for barley were - maximus malt $320, planet malt $328, spartacus malt $320, Bar1 $306.
Wheat - H1 $380, H2 $371, APW $356, ASW $335, GP1 $321 Faba class top prices were between $415 and $420 with canola ranging from $590 to $600.
Meanwhile, Graincorp said the Victorian harvest was building strong momentum, especially in the North East, Northern and Southern Mallee, Swan Hill and Wimmera regions. Across most areas, growers are harvesting canola and barley, with more cereals expected this week.
“The overall quality across all commodities has been excellent, with canola and barley deliveries performing particularly well in southern NSW and Victoria,” it said.
More than 600,000 tonnes was delivered to Graincorp sites last week.