Albany growers exceed record

The bumper harvest predicted for Albany zone grain growers has been exceeded with more than 3 million tonnes in the bin as of Friday, December 13.

In September, CBH predicted this year’s receivals would surpass the previous record set in 2011-12 of 3 million tonnes, with last year’s total of 2 million tonnes topped last month.

CBH Albany Zone manager Greg Thornton said continued favourable harvesting conditions last week prompted a run of record-breaking daily grain receivals.

“Daily receivals records in Cranbrook and Broomehill were broken late last week, with those sites taking 18,236 tonnes and 7945 tonnes,” he said.

“Harvest isn’t over yet but a bumper season has been received with the Albany zone cracking the previous best record to now have in excess of 3.1 million tonnes in the bin.”

By comparison, at the same time last year 1.57 million tonnes had been taken across the zone, according to Mr Thornton.

The bumper yields have put pressure on storage sites and shipping, with emergency storage sites built at Cranbrook, Broomehill and Dumbleyung opening last week.

“A number of sites have filled and closed including Ongerup, Jerramungup, Gnowangerup, Woodanilling and Katanning on Wednesday,” he said.

“The Albany terminal became very tight for storage space last week, however good shipping for this week will ease pressure.

“Growers have been very patient this year as large volumes of grain have been received through the system and in particular over last week.”

Mr Thornton said sites in the east were winding up but the west still had some way to go.

Albany’s big yields have contributed to the State total cracking 14 million tonnes on Friday and revising its total harvest estimate of 14.5 million tonnes from an original prediction of 13.2 to 13.8 million tonnes.

“It is remarkable that we have reached 14 million tonnes by mid-December,” CBH Group general operations manager David Capper said.