THERE hasn't been so much blue tarp at Oaklands for years.
Despite frost, showery weather and heatwave conditions, the 2009 harvest has produced the goods in the southern Riverina.
AWB's 200,000-tonne capacity Grainflow site at Oaklands is sitting at 54,000 tonnes - a far cry from last year's total intake of 6500 tonnes.
Memories remain fresh in the tiny town of the 2007 harvest that produced a record low of 290 tonnes at the site.
Site supervisor Phil Goldsack said the sight of so much grain under blue tarps in bunker storage was refreshing.
"We estimated the site would take 70,000 tonnes this harvest and we are 80 per cent there," Mr Goldsack said.
With harvest expected to linger past New Year, deliveries have included 1000 tonnes of malt barley and 5000 tonnes of canola. Mr Goldsack said canola yields had varied from 500kg/ha to 2 tonnes/ha with oil content at 38-42 per cent.
He said the quality of F1 and F2 barley received was generally poor.
But regional growers were surprised at how well wheat crops performed despite heatwave conditions and showery rain last month.
Average cash prices for AH1 opened at Oaklands at $188/tonne before peaking at $218/tonne and settling at $205-$210/tonne. Staff numbers at the Grainflow site have jumped from five last year to 25 for this harvest - mostly local high school and university students.
"We have had people coming from Albury, Berrigan, Corowa, Oaklands and Mulwala looking for work," Mr Goldsack said.
"All local transport operators are working flat-out and we have had inquires from non-local truck drivers and contracting teams.
"Last year the local truckies were forced to drive further afield for work so this harvest is a real confidence boost for the town."
