GRAIN receival sites in the GrainCorp network have recorded their highest receivals in more than 10 years, with receival records falling in Queensland and New South Wales.
Harvest activity has wound up across both states and in Victoria, with totals close to 11 million tonnes passing through the gates. That’s up from the 7.9 million tonnes recorded in the 2023-24 season.
Receival records fell at Talwood and Toobeah in Queensland, and Burren Junction, Garah, Caroona, Bellata and Quandialla in NSW.
However, receivals took a large tumble in Victoria – down from 4.1 million to 2.4 million in 2024-25.
GrainCorp national head of operations Jason Shanley said that figure was still an average to above-average crop.
“Just seasonal conditions are behind that drop,” he told North West Farmer.
“We had a very dry finish in Victoria, a couple of other weather events with some frost damage.”
Mr Shanley said yield quality was particularly good in the northern states, with majority of harvest in the bins before any rain events.
“It’s good to see return of protein,” he said.
“It has been a lower protein the past couple of years. So definitely good to see some higher protein.
“As we moved south into the southern half of NSW and into Victoria, it was a bit more stop-start with a few rain events there.
“By and large, the quality was pleasing.
“I would say there was a time we got to the end of it and the fifth and sixth rain events, obviously you do lose a little bit of quality.”
Asked if more growers wanted yields stored off their paddocks, Mr Shanley said GrainCorp’s role was to get as much grain into its network as possible.
“To do that, we’ve got to host strong prices,” he said.
“We’ve got to provide a good service to the growers; they want to get in and out of our sites as quickly as possible.
“So we’re very much focused on having the right people in the right positions, from an equipment perspective, making sure that we’re getting rates or receivable rates as fast as possible.
“On a side-by-side basis, we do move our equipment from north to south. So as harvest completes in Queensland, we will move further down south to make sure that we maximise our firepower.
“So for us, recognising that there are these competitors on farm storage, but we certainly try to offer the best possible service to growers to get them delivering the grain into us.”
Mr Shanley said the company worked closely with growers every season, holding grower meetings and site managers communicating with growers so they understood the season ahead.
“What hours we’re operating, what equipment we’re going to have, what segregations we’re going to be offering,” he said.
“And that’s a two-way street … it’s equally important for us that we’re getting that feedback from growers about what they think they’ve got, the timing of their crop, and what hours they’re going to be working as well, so that we can work in with them and to make sure we align.”
GrainCorp has invested “significantly” across its sites, Mr Shanley said.
This included co-investment with levels of governments on rail projects.
Mr Shanley said it was a big logistical operation every season.
“Across our network, we have typically more than 4000 harvest casuals employed, such as the season just finished,” he said.
“That logistically, that’s a big operation to hire them and onboard them.
“The training that we need to do to make sure that they come to site prepared to run not only a safe site, but also an efficient site and provide the service to growers that they are after.”
Mr Shanley said there was still a growing appetite from young people to work at sites during the summer holidays.
“We do get a fair mix,” he said.
“We get a lot of international backpackers, but also a lot of Australian students, university students who are coming out of Year 11 and 12.
“We also still get quite a few grey nomads who are travelling through the network every year.
“They bring certain skill sets with their experience working on the land.
“When we go out and visit sites, you see they are enjoying what they’re doing and that’s always rewarding.”
Mr Shanley said when grain growers had good seasons, country towns flourished.
“When you drive through these towns during harvest, it’s good to see the buzz, there’s lots people around everywhere,” he said.
“Lots of cars and I’m sure everyone’s spending their hard-earned dollars.
“Whether that’s buying lunch down at the local mill bar or having a meal at the pub during harvest, it definitely brings lots of activity to small towns.”
