Western Australia is on track to record its third-largest grain harvest in history with the massive haul expected to inject billions of dollars into the state’s economy.
The bumper harvest comes despite a drier-than-average winter, which saw grain industry analysts in May estimate a modest yield of 15 million tonnes.
But this week the state’s largest grain handler, Cooperative Bulk Handling (CBH), reported it had processed 19.5 million tonnes to date, 3 million tonnes more than it predicted at the start of harvest.
Peta and Barry West say it is one of the best seasons they can remember. (ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett)
Kulin farmer Barry West said it was one of the best seasons he could remember in more than 40 years.
“This is our 51st crop and it’s been an amazing one,” he said.
“We going to get close to 20 million tonnes for CBH … and there’s still growing coming in.”
This year’s harvest is estimated to be worth about $10 billion. (ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett)
Gamble pays off
The result has come as a relief to many growers in the state who were forced to roll the dice earlier in the year, seeding dry and praying for rain.
“It was a very dry summer … some areas did have some summer rain … but we were seeing dry,” Mr West said.
“It’s a risk doing that, but the risk in this case turned out to be very good.”
Reports from the Bureau of Meteorology found while the northern half of the state recorded above-average rainfall in the month leading up to harvest, grain growers in the southern half were below the November average.
Growers reap billion-dollar reward
Grain Industry Association WA analyst Michael Lamond said many were still coming to terms with the result.
Michael Lamond says 2024 looks like the third-largest harvest on record. (ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett)
“It’s quite unexpected … when you consider it was a very low rainfall growing season, very, very low across the state except for the north,” he said.
“We are going to go close to 20 million tonnes for CBH and that’s their third highest crop.”
CBH has processed 19.5 million tonnes of grain so far this harvest. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)
Mr Lamond said while canola and barley exceeded growers’ expectations, wheat was a stand-out crop across the state.
“The wheat has been exceptionally good. It was flowering right through that September period when there was no rain, I mean it’s just extraordinary,” he said.
Mr Lamond said the total harvest would net growers almost $10 billion, a figure Mr West said would be pumped back into the state’s economy.
“Everyone talks about the mining industry, but farmers are notorious — if they make it, they spend it,” Mr West said.
“They upgrade their machinery, they buy things like cars and motorbikes, they replace stuff.
“When things are tight, the chequebook is In the bottom drawer, so as far as the state economy goes, this will be really good.”
