WA Grain Harvest Poised to Shatter Record with 27 Million Tonnes
Western Australia is on track to break its grain harvest record, aiming for a phenomenal 27 million tonnes. This anticipated increase of approximately 2 million tonnes over the previous year’s record comes amid favorable seasonal conditions and a shift in farming priorities.
Significant Harvest Projection for 2025
The Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA) will officially confirm these figures next month. However, Michael Lamond, a prominent figure in the industry, has indicated that the forecasted total might reach around 27.2 million tonnes. He stated, “Harvest is pretty well done and dusted in Western Australia now.”
Exceptional Growth Factors
This year’s harvest has surpassed early forecasts, much to the surprise of many farmers. Lamond pointed out that while some regions faced challenges, particularly in the northern Geraldton zone where rainfall was limited, overall yields have improved significantly.
- 2022 harvest area: 8.96 million hectares
- 2025 projected harvest area: 9.44 million hectares
More crops were sown this season in regions with above-average rainfall, contributing to a substantial yield increase. Royce Taylor, a farmer in the Great Southern, noted this year as one of his highest production years on record, emphasizing the remarkable barley yields in his area.
Economic Impact
Taylor estimates that the total economic benefit from the harvest could exceed $10 billion, boosting the Western Australian economy significantly.
Despite these positive developments, the global grain market faces challenges. Taylor acknowledged that an oversupply of wheat could pressure market prices, complicating the benefits of the bumper harvest.
Regional Highlights
In areas like Lake Grace, farmers have experienced remarkable production, while some regions, such as parts of Kalannie and east Merredin, have missed out on the favorable harvest. Cathy Cooke, a farmer in Mollerin, expressed concern for those affected.
Significant records have also been established in grain storage. In the Esperance port zone, the CBH Group has reported a record 4.05 million tonnes received, surpassing the previous record of 3.7 million tonnes. “We always planned our harvest receivals out to around the 4 million tonne mark,” stated Paul Channon, the zone’s general manager.
Other Zones’ Performance
The Albany port zone has also excelled, receiving 5.35 million tonnes, which is 700,000 tonnes above its former record. “There were multiple days of over 150,000 tonnes of daily receivals,” commented Will Piercey, the general port zone manager.
Similar success was noted in the Kwinana South region, with 4.6 million tonnes reported, maintaining high-quality standards throughout the season.
Final crop figures are scheduled for release on February 13, providing a detailed look into Western Australia’s extraordinary grain harvest season.
