Week ending Sunday 15 December 2019 report

Last week’s receivals were predominately wheat, with improved weather conditions bringing an additional 400,000 tonnes of grain into our network – up nearly 60,000 tonnes compared to the previous week.

The pace of harvest is easing in the Central and Western regions, while the Eastern region’s south east areas are building towards their peak providing strong receivals.

Viterra Eastern region Operations Manager Jo Klitscher says the region showed good momentum last week, with all sites receiving grain.

“As expected at this point, some sites in the region are slowing down now, but the south east is moving into its peak, so receivals in those areas are really picking up,” Jo says.

“To make sure we provide access to our network during this busy time, we’ve been working closely with growers and extending site opening hours around their needs.”

Viterra Western region Operations Manager, Nick Pratt says grower sentiment remains positive with many Eyre Peninsula growers expecting an earlier conclusion to harvest than previous years.

“Growers have been commenting that harvest on the Eyre Peninsula is about two or three weeks ahead of previous years, which could see them enjoying some time off over Christmas,” Nick says.

“Last week was again busy for sites in the southern Eyre Peninsula, with our Cummins, Port Lincoln and Tumby Bay sites all recording consistent tonnes throughout the last week.”

Viterra Central region Operations Manager Jack Tansley says with harvest drawing to a close, the region’s larger sites will remain open and smaller sites have begun progressively closing for the season.

“We had 13 sites open last week, and as harvest finishes up our larger sites will remain open and ready to receive growers’ tail end deliveries or their on farm stock,” Jack says.

Did you know?

• Viterra is a significant contributor to the South Australian economy, with $2.8 billion spent from 2010 to 2018 on wages, capital investment and operational expenditure.
• Viterra operates one of Australia’s largest container packing and processing facilities with sites in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales packing a combined 40,000 containers per year, each holding an average 24 tonnes.
• Viterra gives ongoing support to BlazeAid by providing storage for their fleet of trailers. BlazeAid is a volunteer based organisation who support rural communities after natural disasters, by helping to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed. Read more about the trailers being deployed to help fire affected communities rebuild on the lower Yorke Peninsula.

Disclaimer
* This data is subject to variation due to individual site operations and the timing of reports.
** The total 2019/20 data includes grain received into Viterra’s storage and handling network since 8 October 2019.
*** Eastern region data includes Inner Harbour and Victorian sites.