CANOLA harvest in the Henty Region in the Riverina district of southern NSW is in full swing.
Deliveries into local depots started off slowly but are now coming in a little more steadily. Oil levels have been averaging 36 per cent. Recent rainfall across the region held up harvest, but would not have affected the quality.
Canola in the region is yielding on average 0.8 metric tonnes per hectare and harvest should wrap up with in the next two weeks
Genetically Modified Canola is being received into Lockhart Depot, and oil levels have been about 35 per cent, but a few loads have come in at around 42 per cent oil. Australian Grain Accumulation are expecting oils levels to increase as it comes in from now onwards.
Growers seem to be reasonably happy with their GM crops but there has been some confusion on how it is to be priced. GM canola cannot be warehoused, and it can either be cashed at silo or contracted prior to being delivered.
Barley harvest receivals have been slow, and Wheat harvest in the area is due to commence within the week. Wheat samples have started to come in and they are going AUH, with low screenings and high protein levels.
Conditions this growing season have not been great in the Riverina, and yields for wheat and barley in the Henty region will be averaging around 1.7mt/ha.
Rain fell last weekend with some regions receiving up to 25mm of rain, too little too late. It may have benefited some later crops east of Henty, but was simply a nuisance for other areas.
Marketing grain this year as we all know will be different to last year. Growers are able to Cash grain at their local silo, pool it, contract pool it, warehouse, or forward contract their commodities.
Cash prices for silos are updated by 8pm every night, and will be available on the marketer's websites, also on the cash boards at silos.
Most silos will be open by 7am daily for deliveries. Silos will be open over the weekends, depending on the weather conditions. Cash prices at silos over the weekend will be traders discretion as to whether a new price is set or Friday’s price is carried over for Saturday and Sunday.
Farmers need to be aware that contract prices can be higher than cash prices at silos, and vice versa. Therefore, they will need to be diligent when looking at pricing their commodities.
For more marketing information call your local AGA Field Merchant – Bianca Beasly, Wagga Wagga (02) 6926 8438.
This is a comment provided each week by Australian Grain Accumulation.
