Albany grain growers boost WA harvest

Grain growers across the Albany zone continue to contribute to the biggest ever harvest in WA in CBH’s 80-year history.

Earlier this month the total amount of grain processed by CBH surpassed the previous best haul of 15.06 million tonnes in the 2011-12 season to sit at 15,605,859 tonnes as of yesterday.

Initial predictions of a bumper yield for the Albany zone of between 2.9 and 3.2 million was smashed in November, with local growers having contributed 3,569,982 tonnes to the record-breaking haul as of yesterday.

Albany zone general manager Greg Thornton said the terminal at Albany Port had also received the most amount of grain ever.

“The Albany terminal has so far received 460,000 tonnes of grain, which is the biggest we have ever had,” he said.

“We expect to continue receivals in Albany for another month or so, as we deliver grain from storage sites.”

Mr Thornton said in addition to the 3.57 million tonnes taken so far across the zone, he expected an estimated 40-50,000 tonnes over the next month to take the zone’s total to just over 3.6 million tonnes for the season.

As well as record-breaking yields, of the 54 sites across the State to smash daily records of grain received, more than one- third were located in the Albany zone, according to CBH’s latest figures.

In addition, 13 of those 17 sites also broke overall season records for the total amount of grain received, including Borden, Gairdner, Jacup, Ongerup, Wellstead, Broomehill, Cranbrook, Dumbleyung, Nyabing, Wagin, Hyden, Lake Grace and Newdegate.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Ken Baston said the outstanding year for WA growers was encouraging after years of low and average yields.

“This is obviously good for the farmers, their families and their rural communities and provides valuable export income to the WA economy,” he said.