Category: Crops

A BOUNCE in US wheat values has fed through to eastern Australian prices for feed wheat and barley.

In the north, limited availability of road freight to service the stockfeed sector once the chickpea harvest gets legs has further fuelled price lifts of up to $20 per tonne.

In the south, spring arrived with some gusty winds in the higher latitudes, and some good rain in patches.

Sorghum is trading sideways in thin volume, with the still unconfirmed news that China plans to limit its purchases of sorghum and barley hanging over coarse grains bound for export.

	Prompt	Aug 29	New crop	Aug 29
Barley Downs	$315	$310	$315	$298
ASW Downs	$335	$320	$328	$308
Sorghum Downs	$310	$310	$310	$310
Barley Melbourne	$320	$322	$328	$325
ASW Melbourne	$345	$330	$355	$340

Table 1: Indicative prices in Australian dollars per tonne.

Freight fuels northern lift

Expected tightness in the local road-freight market, supported by the bounce in US futures, has seen barley and wheat values rise significantly for the first time in weeks.

Demand is coming from feedlots and other consumers who can see the bumper chickpea harvest, expected to start next month in southern Qld, tying up trucks until Christmas.

Smithfield Cattle Co commodity buyer Brett Carsburg said growers were reluctant sellers of new crop in the rebounding market.

“Seven days ago it was going down; now it looks like it’s found a bottom,” Mr Carsburg said.

Road-freight rates are already rallying, and adding to the value of wheat and barley being offered to consumers in the harvest slot.

“At the moment, the offers are $5 dearer than they should be due to traders being unsure of freight rates.”

Growers only appear to have small amounts of current crop to sell, and are shying away from committing new-crop wheat on multigrade contracts in the hope of getting H2 or better grades.

Harvest is expected to start in coming weeks in Central Queensland, and after unusually warm weather across last weekend, some early planted crops in all regions have started to turn.

Some patches of the central and eastern Darling Downs are dry enough to spark some concerns about high screenings and low testweights.

However, yields are generally seen as well above average across the entire northern zone, from CQ to northern New South Wales.

Mr Carsburg said consumers in the stockfeed industry were hoping for SFW and ASW-type wheat to be offered up in volume once new crop hits, but growers were hoping for significant premiums for protein in milling grades.

“Growers don’t know if they’re going to get milling, and they won’t know until it’s harvested.

“Feedlots trying to buy grain today will struggle to buy the new crop they want.”

Mr Carsburg said the freight component could add a premium of up to $10/t over the base price of grain, and that could be expected if the upcoming harvest progressed at breakneck pace.

“If it’s a stop-start harvest with rain…people will get a chance to move things around; if headers can go through to 10 at night, there’ll be a lot of pressure on trucks.”

On the production front, planting of sorghum is continuing at pace in southern Qld and northern NSW, and many weeks ahead of the normal window.

Southern wheat prices climb

Price moves for barley have been mixed and moderate, but wheat prices have jumped to reflect the first significant rally in offshore values in months.

Victoria’s main grain-growing areas have copped some strong winds and very little rain from successive fronts in the past week, while southern districts, where grazing is the focus, received some substantial falls.

Likewise, South Australia copped some strong winds in its cropping regions, and some handy falls as well in the Lower South East.

The upshot is that the Vic crop is looking okay in this first week of spring as warmer weather sees roots push into subsoil-moisture reserves, but a number of SA districts need nothing less than an ideal spring to achieve even average yields.

Reid Stockfeeds commodity manager Justin Fay said the recent bounce in offshore values has been more supportive of new-crop rather than nearby values.

“Old-crop hasn’t done too much and the reason for that is new-crop grain is coming,” Mr Fay said, adding that growers were starting to offer parcels to limited demand.

The southern region is still seen as having a big carryout, and parcels of it may well start to feed into the domestic or export markets, particularly if the bulk of the Vic and SA harvest is late, as expected after the delayed planting and germination.

Recent warmer temperatures have promoted pasture growth, which has allowed many graziers to stop buying in fodder and grain for the first time in months.

“While the Western District is lagging, it’s the most reliable area in the state in terms of rainfall.

“Its canola is out in full flower, and its wheat is certainly behind, but it will progress.

“The rest of the state looks pretty good.”

 

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A CROWD of more than 150 gathered at the GRDC GroundUp Showcase in Toowoomba’s Agtech and Logistics Hub last Thursday to explore cutting-edge technologies aimed at tackling challenges in the grains industry.

Taking part in the event were 16 exhibitors, including nine who recently completed the GroundUp accelerator program, a 12-week course focused on helping start-ups fast-track the development of their businesses.

Participants included: Bio10; Birdsol; FarmSimple; InFarm, MADE; Metagen; Seed 2 Diesel; SKAN Farming Logistics, and Walco Seed Cleaning.

The program was delivered by AgriBusiness Connect’s Agtech and Logistics Hub, in conjunction with the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Agtech Logistics Hub manager Owen Williams said the technologies aimed to help growers achieve key goals, such as to grow crops in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way, and with the ability to trace the produce from farm to retail.

He said technologies featuring elements of artificial intelligence and biotechnology played a key role in many of the participants of the GroundUp program.

“Farmers are looking to grow crops more efficiently but also more environmentally and then once they do that, they need to be able to show traceability to the consumer,” Mr Williams said.

“Consumers are more aware today than what they have ever been…and they want to know that their produce has some from a good place and a safe place.

“A lot of the technology we are seeing…feeds into those platforms.”

Program participant Kurt Walter, from Walco Seed Cleaning at Halbury in South Australia’s Mid North, showcased a technology which uses AI to increase the efficiency and accuracy of grain assessments.

The device, named the Grain Detective, combines Mr Walter’s over 20 years of experience with seed-cleaning and assessing with AI technology developed by Adelaide-based business GoMicro.

Mr Walter said the device drastically cuts the time needed to assess grain, and provides a more accurate average by assessing larger quantities of the load.

“It is essentially doing high-speed video assessing on a visual level and having the ability to sample the majority of a truckload or a bunker,” Mr Walter said.

“What we do in seconds could take a human 40 minutes to do properly.”

He said the company was calling for potential investors and fellow agribusinesses keen to trial the device.

Mr Walter said while he was experienced in running an established business, he was new to developing a start-up company.

He said the GroundUp accelerator program gave him insights into new topics tailored to a start-up operation, such as legal requirements, marketing and investment.

“We had a different topic every week…some weeks were mind-blowing.

“It was enough to keep everything moving and I could absorb every bit of information and had time to process it.”

In its second year, the program focused on accelerating technologies which benefited growers producing grains, pulses and oilseeds.

GRDC grower relations manager north Rebecca Raymond said enabling growers to have access to new technologies would help the industry adapt and grow.

“We know farming is changing; there are and will continue to be different opportunities and challenges that our growers face when it comes to managing warming soils, different and sporadic rainfall, changing consumer preferences, pressure to reduce emissions, changes to acceptable chemical use, social license, and the list goes on,” Ms Raymond said.

“We need to predict what future farmers need to be able to manage and plan for these challenges and use evidence-based research to begin that work now.”

Biotech, skills academy ambitions

Alongside the showcase, Mr Williams updated the audience on AgriBusiness Connect’s work to progress plans for a biotechnology factory and R&D facility, as well as a national future-skills academy.

He said the biotechnology factory and R&D facility would develop and manufacture crop inputs that would replace the currently available synthetic products.

“Biotechnology is the fundamental science based around algae, microbes and botany and the combination of the three,” Mr Williams said.

“We take molecules and extracts from those and formulate chemistry that solves challenges, whether that be insects, fungus, bionutrients.”

With Queensland Government support, AgriBusiness Connect has commissioned a third party to complete a business plan on the proposal.

Mr Williams said the company was engaging with agribusinesses from agricultural chemical suppliers and retailers to growers and researchers.

“Europe and America are way ahead of where we are, so we can use some of that as learnings so we can minimise the mistakes and build a world-class facility.”

He said the initial plans were to start with a crop and plant-protection solutions for broadacre, horticulture and pasture crops.

It is currently anticipated that the facility would be based at Wellcamp, west of Toowoomba.

Mr Williams said work was further progressed on the proposed national future skills academy with BDO recently finishing a business case.

He said the report had “come back really favourable” and had highlighted where the gaps were in the current system.

“We had universities, TAFE, schools and private educators give feedback into it, and importantly, we had industry and agribusinesses give feedback.

“It’s highlighted where the core academia is being supplied and where this massive gap is that’s starting to have an effect on lack of adoption of technology and lack of…opportunity to take their businesses to the next level.”

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INDONESIA is the world’s fourth most populous country and the largest archipelagic nation on the planet, with over 18,000 islands and islets, of which around 6,000 are inhabited. While agriculture is a significant part of the country’s economy, directly supplying food ingredients and providing the main source of employment in rural regions, Indonesia does not produce enough rice to feed its population and imports all of the republic’s wheat requirements.

The Indonesian landmass is largely unsuited to wheat production, with other more appropriate crops, such as palm oil, offering farmers much higher returns. On the steeper mountainous terrain, of which there is plenty, rice becomes a far more practical option. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil and the third-largest rice producer.

The nation’s exploding population, new flour-based food trends, and diet diversification are translating into increased demand for wheat flour, which is music to the ears of the domestic flour milling industry. The sector currently includes 30 mills with an installed capacity of around 14.4Mt, commanding a 99.9pc domestic market share.

A total of 23 flour mills are located on the island of Java, the geographic and economic centre of Indonesia and home to more than half its population, five on Sumatra, and two on Sulawesi. Flour consumption is growing so quickly that four new mills are expected to come online in 2024-25.

The Indonesian government only permits flour mills to import wheat, restricting imports by traders and stockfeed mills by way of a 5pc import duty for non-human consumption products. It will only approve wheat imports for stockfeed use when deemed necessary and only through assignments to state-owned enterprises managing government food reserves, such as the National Logistics Agency.

Nevertheless, demand for imported wheat flour increased by 44.7pc in the 2023/24 marketing year (July to June) to 75,000t of wheat equivalent compared to just under 52,000t of wheat equivalent in 2022/23. Indonesia sources most of its imported wheat flour from Turkey, which enjoyed a 91.1pc market share last year, followed by Vietnam with a 6.2pc cut of the import task.

Indonesia’s wheat imports in 2023/24 increased by 33.4pc year-on-year from 9.45Mt to a record 12.6Mt, according to trade data analysed by the Jakarta-based team at the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture. The notable rise in wheat imports reflects a growing preference for wheat as a cheaper food staple alternative to rice, and higher corn prices forcing stockfeed mills to reduce the proportion of corn in their feed ration in favour of wheat as the primary energy source.

Australia’s contribution to Indonesia’s 2023/24 wheat import program was 4.11Mt or 32.6pc of the total. That constituted 18.3pc of Australia’s total wheat shipments over the 12-month period. The biggest months were August and July 2023, with 767,000t and 637,000Mt, respectively. Since October 1, 2020, Australia has exported 99Mt of wheat, with sales to Indonesia coming to 16.1Mt, or 16.3pc of the total program. Indonesian imports of Russian wheat increased almost tenfold from 168,000t in 2022/23 to 1.6Mt in 2023/24.

According to the Indonesian Flour Mills Association, the high price of rice in the domestic market has increased the consumption of instant noodles, especially by lower-income families. Furthermore, the growing Indonesian middle-income cohort, which currently accounts for around 20pc of the population, is dominated by Generation Z, who like to try new products and experiences. More upper-end restaurants, noodle stalls serving creative plating, and innovative bakeries offering new and globally trending flour-based food products are also popping up nationwide.

The growing consumption pushed food sector demand 8.2pc higher to 9.2Mt of wheat equivalent in 2023/24, compared to the 8.5Mt of wheat equivalent utilised in 2022/23. And with a continuation of the consumer preference swing to wheat-flour based food, FAS expects the upward trend to be sustained in 2024/25, calling the food sector intake 3.3pc higher again at 9.5Mt.

Wheat is also an increasingly critical ingredient in stockfeed rations. Approximately 90pc goes into the intensive poultry industry, with aquaculture accounting for 6pc and cattle and swine the remaining 4pc. Indonesia’s feed mill sector consists of 110 feed mills in 10 provinces, 81 of which are on Java, the world’s most populous island. In 2023, the total installed poultry feed capacity was approximately 27.6Mt, on par with the previous year, and the mills are reported to be running at 70-75pc of total capability.

Current forecasting from the poultry association suggests a 6pc increase in the flock over the next 12 months. A pronounced swing from corn to wheat to meet carbohydrate requirements in poultry feed formulations saw wheat consumption for stockfeed almost double from 1.1Mt in 2022/23 to 2.1Mt last season. FAS forecasts it to rise by another 4.8pc in 2024/25 to 2.2Mt, driven by high corn prices and the burgeoning poultry sector demand.

Indonesia’s record wheat import program in the recently concluded 2023/24 season saw carry-out stocks increase by 900,000t to 2.1Mt, notwithstanding the significant increase in internal consumption. According to FAS, the higher wheat carry-in this marketing year will likely see Indonesian wheat imports drop by 600,000t to 12Mt, maintaining a similar carry-out at the end of 2024/25, despite the aforementioned 400,000t increase in domestic demand across both the flour milling and stockfeed sectors.

Assuming Australia maintains a similar proportion of the task, that pencils the land down under in for approximately 3.9Mt of wheat shipments to its northern neighbour this season, especially with a smaller crop and lower exportable surplus in Russia and production troubles brewing in Argentina.

A NEW RESEARCH consortium has been established to close knowledge gaps around Septoria avenae leaf blotch, a significant disease in Australian oat crops.

Following the launch of the Oat Grain Quality Consortium (OGQC) earlier this year, the Oat Septoria Research Consortium (OSRC) is the second oat-research consortium to be established by the Grains Research and Development Corporation this year.

The $4.18-million OSRC will see three programs established, led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute , the research division of Primary Industries and Regions SA, Murdoch University in conjunction with the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Curtin University’s Centre for Crop and Disease Management.

Septoria avenae leaf blotch can cause yield losses of up to 15 percent, or even as high as 50pc in susceptible varieties.

The stubble-borne disease is widespread in Western Australia, where it is estimated 90pc of oats crops have some level of Septoria infection, particularly in high-rainfall areas where oats are more widely grown.

Australian oat varieties typically have poor genetic resistance to Septoria, with growers relying on cultural practices and chemical measures to control it.

These come with an economic cost to growers, while chemical use alone is not sustainable because of the risk of fungicide resistance and market pressures to reduce its use.

GRDC genetic technologies manager barley, oats and sorghum Michael Groszmann said the OSRC is focusing on identifying more resistance sources, scrutinising the value of these sources across environments and seasons, refining in-lab phenotyping of the pathogen and generating molecular tools for plant breeders.

“If we can better understand the pathogen virulence mechanisms at the genomic level, it will enable improved identification of novel resistance mechanisms in the oat plant host,” Dr Groszmann said.

“The three programs are led by Australia’s leading oat Septoria research groups, who will unite in a consolidated effort to enable industry deployment of new high-yielding oat varieties that are highly resistant to oat Septoria.

“In addition to reducing yield losses, new resistant varieties will allow growers to minimise reliance on fungicides to reduce costs, ensure functional chemistry remains in reserve if needed, and safeguard the oat industry against market changes that may limit the use of or access to fungicides.

“Each consortium member has unrivalled expertise, resources, capabilities, and capacity in the oat Septoria research space that will be synergised in a collaborative network, and together represent the best opportunity to accelerate delivery of effective solutions against Septoria avenae leaf blotch for growers and industry.”

The three programs are:

1: Accelerating transfer of resistant sources to Australian oat breeders; led by SARDI under the management of Dr Judith Atieno and Dr Janine Croser.

2: Further discovery of improved sources of Septoria resistance; led by a Murdoch University/DPIRD collaboration under the management of Dr Chengdao Li, Manisha Shankar and Darshan Sharma, with co-investment from the WA State Government Processed Oat Partnership program;

3: Identification of oat sensitivity loci corresponding to newly discovered fungal effectors; led by Curtin University’s CCDM under the management of Dr Huyen Phan and Professor Mark Gibberd.

The OSRC follows an $800,000 investment from GRDC between 2020 and 2023, which saw SARDI conduct a discovery program into possible sources of resistance and understand the evolution and virulence of the pathogen population.

The new OSRC investment builds on this foundation investment and represents a wider group of oat investments over recent years by the GRDC totalling $24 million.

“GRDC’s new wave of oat investments has been designed strategically with industry partners using market insights and rides on prior investments, which include the aforementioned OGQRC, the new National Oat Breeding Program under the leadership of InterGrain, the oat pangenome initiative (Murdoch University), research into oat crown rust and oat phenology (CSIRO), and investment with an innovative trait development company, Traitomic, based in Denmark,” Dr Groszmann says.

“This portfolio of research will benefit the entire Australian oat supply chain by providing breeders with new traits that align with grower and market demands, making Australian oats a more attractive commodity for wider cultivation.”

Source: GRDC

THE Bureau of Meteorology has released its 2024 Spring Long-Range Forecast, predicting warmer-than-average temperatures and mixed chances of achieving median rainfall.

The long-range forecast provides guidance on the likelihood that different parts of the country will see conditions that are warmer or cooler, or wetter and drier than average over the next three months.

The Spring Long-Range Forecast shows an increased likelihood of warmer than average temperatures across all states and territories this spring.

Rainfall forecasts are more mixed, with an increased likelihood of above average for large parts of eastern Australia, and more likely below average rainfall for large parts of Western Australia.

The Long-Range Forecast is updated weekly with the forecast accuracy steadily improving as the start of the next month approaches.

It is worth noting that spring is typically a time when southern Australia experiences large swings in weather associated with passage of cold fronts across the south, as well as more thunderstorm activity as the weather warms.

Spring forecast by state and territory

New South Wales and the ACT

Most of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory have increased chances of warmer-than-usual spring temperatures.

Parts of eastern NSW, including around Sydney, are likely to see temperatures in the typical range for spring.

Most of NSW and the ACT have increased chances of above-average spring rainfall.

There is also an increased chance for unusually high spring rainfall for most of the northern half of the state, extending into some central areas.

Spring rainfall in recent decades has typically been 100-300mm along the east coast and 25-100mm in western NSW.

Victoria

Vic has an increased chance of warmer-than-usual spring temperatures.

Most of Vic is likely to have rainfall within the typical range for spring.

This follows several very dry months in the west of the state.

There is a slightly increased chance of above-average spring rainfall for a part of the state’s south-west.

Queensland

All of Qld has an increased chance of warmer-than-usual spring temperatures with an increased chance of unusually warm days and nights for most of the state.

Most of Qld is likely to have above-average rainfall, especially southern and central areas.

Northern Australia’s official wet season begins in October.

The first significant rains of this northern wet season are likely to be earlier than usual for most of Qld.

Western Australia

Most of WA has an increased chance of warmer-than-usual spring temperatures with an increased chance of unusually warm days and nights in some northern areas.

Perth and parts of the state’s south can expect average daytime temperatures for spring.

Rainfall in south-west WA, including Perth, is likely to be within the typical range for spring.

Spring rainfall has typically been 50-300mm in recent decades for most of the South West Land Division.

Below-average rainfall is likely in parts of the mid-west and central inland regions.

Northern Australia’s official wet season begins in October.

The first significant rains of this northern wet season are likely to be later than usual for most of WA’s northern areas.

South Australia

SA has an increased chance of warmer-than-usual temperatures across spring.

Adelaide, parts of the state’s southern agricultural areas and parts of the north have a slightly increased chance of above-average spring rainfall.

This follows a prolonged period of dry conditions that have prevailed in the south-east of the state this year.

The forecast shows a more typical range of spring rainfall is likely for the rest of the state.

Tasmania

Tas has an increased chance of warmer-than-usual spring temperatures with an increased chance of unusually warm days and nights.

There is a higher chance of above-average spring rainfall for eastern Tasmania.

There is an increased chance for unusually high spring rainfall in parts of the east.

Western Tas is likely to have rainfall within the typical range for spring, noting that recent rainfall has helped alleviate dry conditions experienced during autumn and winter.

Northern Territory

All of the NT has an increased chance of warmer-than-usual spring temperatures with an increased chance of unusually warm days and nights for most areas.

The forecast shows that a typical range of spring rainfall is likely for most of the Territory.

Northern Australia’s official wet season begins in October.

The first significant rains of this northern wet season are likely to be earlier than usual for parts of the Top End.

Winter – preliminary summary

Despite some typically cool winter temperatures at times on the east coast, winter has been warmer than usual across the country, with August on track to be Australia’s warmest August on record.

While winter rainfall has been close to average for many areas, parts of Australia’s south-east have been drier than usual.

Overall, Australia’s mean temperature will be around 1.5 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 winter average.

The national summary for winter and August will be on the Bureau’s website from September; detailed summaries for winter and August conditions for each state and capital city will be published September 4.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

UNCONFIRMED news that China is halting imports of barley and sorghum has fed into the stockfeed market as new-crop barley gets closer, and sorghum planting starts.

In the southern market, precarious conditions for the new crop have seen barley prices bounce, while prompt wheat values have followed the global market lower.

In the north, grain will be plentiful but freight will be tight as trucks shun cereals to shuttle chickpeas from farms to depots or export terminals.

This realisation is pushing some northern consumers to make a move on their November coverage.

	Prompt	Aug 22	New crop	Aug 22
Barley Downs	$310	$335	$298	$320
ASW Downs	$320	$338	$308	$320
Sorghum Downs	$310	$338	$310	$330
Barley Melbourne	$322	$320	$325	$310
ASW Melbourne	$330	$340	$340	$330

Table 1: Indicative delivered prices in Australian dollars per tonne.

An article published by Bloomberg overnight says China has asked its traders to ratchet back their grain imports to counter weaker-than-expected demand and bolster local prices.

The article says barley and sorghum shipments that have been booked are not affected, and new measures are likely to impact arrivals from November, and into the first quarter of 2025.

The go-slow by China does not appear to be directed at Australia, and is expected to impact other exporters including the US.

On the plus side for Australia, sorghum stocks are very low, and barley volumes have also waned ahead of new-crop feed becoming available to ship in December.

If China is out of the barley market early next year, and wheat prices remain low, canola is likely to have a larger-than-normal share of new-crop slots from southern Australia’s ports.

China is Australia’s biggest sorghum market by far, and the yet-to-be-verified news could well deter growers in southern Queensland from starting or advancing their abnormally early planting of the red grain after good rain.

Hot week forecast for north

Earliest barley crops are starting to run to head, as are some wheat crops in Central Queensland, where harvest is expected to start late next month.

Coming days in Qld’s growing areas, and into New South Wales, are forecast to bring temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius, with 36-37 degrees forecast for Roma from tomorrow until Sunday.

These temperatures are well above average, and will get some crops turning weeks ahead of the normal time.

The China news appears to be having little impact on the northern market, largely because all barley grown in Qld and northern NSW is consumed domestically.

“Logistics is going to be the challenge,” one trader said, referring to the tie-up of trucks on chickpeas from October to January.

“It’ll be freight that pushes prices up; we’ve seen that movie before.”

AgForce grains president and Downs grower Brendan Taylor said growers with chickpeas will be selling them first into a hungry export market, and will hang on to their cereals in the hope of better prices.

“The wheat and barley markets are essentially in freefall,” Mr Taylor said prior to the China news.

“We’re looking at sub $300/t on-farm already, and bids for new-crop are around $270.”

AgVantage Commodities broker Brendon Warnock concurs, saying low cereal prices will see growers sell chickpeas as their cash crop at harvest, and not before, as they want to be sure about when they can deliver, and quality.

With new-crop prices slipping below $300/t on farm, Mr Warnock said the yield advantage will not offset low prices.

“Most growers are saying with costs where they are…these current prices are below the cost of production, so it is a pretty serious situation,” Mr Warnock said.

While waterlogging in some patches of the northern region has clipped yield potential, the vast majority of crops are looking at above-average to bumper yields.

Mixed conditions in south

Much of south-eastern Australia has had some rain in recent weeks, but windy and warm weather, and limited subsoil moisture in some districts, means most crops need a good drink to get them ready for spring.

“We haven’t seen a mixed season like this for a number of years; it’s highly variable,” GeoCommodities broker Brad Knight said.

“Our client base has more optimism than a month ago; canola’s cabbaging up, and cereals are bulking up.”

However, plenty of crops in Victoria and South Australia are well behind where they would normally be at this time of year, and are expected to return below-average yields.

“An average crop is the best we’ll see out of Vic and SA.”

As August draws to a close, trade sources report a reasonable amount of forward selling has been done by some growers, and from the trade, as the realisation hits home of a softer world market based on mostly good crops in the Northern Hemisphere.

Talk of cash croppers cutting some of their cereals for hay is starting to creep north into central NSW, where yield prospects are well above average.

Some Vic cash croppers, particularly in the Wimmera, where crops generally have more biomass, could also do a few rounds for hay.

“We’ve got some clients talking about hay that aren’t traditional hay growers; they’ve got weed issues, and they haven’t been able to get on top of ryegrass.”

Any cereal hay from crops grown with the intention of going through to grain are likely to go into replenishing on-farm stocks in Vic’s Western District, or SA’s South East, as well as feeding sheep over spring and summer.

While recent rain and patches of warm weather have sparked some good pasture growth, frost or heat without further rain could see this flush of feed wither.

Therefore, growers in central NSW who are seeing on-farm bids as low as $240/t for new-crop wheat might decide to drop some of their crop for hay.

Southern consumers are currently chipping away at their November coverage, with the idea that the chickpea task could tighten local freight if enough southern trucks head north to work the harvest.

 

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• Cotton winners announced
• GTA names life members
• Rice awards presented
• Durham wins Brownhill Cup
• ACIAR names executive team
• McFarlane joins Pacific Seeds
• Cropify team expands
• Moore wins Farrer Memorial Medal
• Lewis joins T-Ports
• Bird steps on to GPSA Board
• Egerton wins AgriFutures award
• Gongs for AIR EP, Long

Cotton winners announced

Scott Balsillie, farm manager for Eastern Australia Agriculture in Dirranbandi, has been named the 2024 Bayer Cotton Grower of the year, while the AgriRisk High Achiever award recipients are Steve and Bridget McVeigh from Dalby on the Darling Downs.

The cotton industry’s top awards for the year were announced as part of the biennial Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast held earlier this month.

Mr Balsillie started working full-time in cotton 25 years ago, and today runs farms Clyde and Kia Ora, which combined grow up to 6500ha of cotton.

He has focused on improving water efficiency through the bankless conversion from siphons, achieving huge benefits in labour and water savings, machine efficiencies and yield benefits.

“It’s all the 1 percenters that you get right that give you the amazing crop at the end,” Mr Balsillie said.

The McVeighs’ run Loch Eaton near Dalby, where they grow more than 1000ha of irrigated and dryland cotton.

“I’m a big believer in development, diversification and technology,” Mr McVeigh said.

“We are always looking at water and labour-saving technologies and looking to adopt the latest tech.”

The recipient of the CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award is Sharna Holman who is currently undertaking PhD research focusing on the pest status of cluster caterpillar in northern Australia, addressing sustainable cotton production challenges.

The recipient of the Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year Award is Lisa Bird who plays a pivotal role in management of the industry’s insecticide resistance program with her team at the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Australian Cotton Research Institute.

The prestigious Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Service to the Cotton Industry Award went to Ross Munro from BMC Partnerships in Moree.

Mr Munro started his relationship with cotton in the 1970s working alongside his father, before later using his experience to team up with Danny and John Burke to form the BMC partnership.

“The award recipients have been recognised for their intelligent and forward-focused approach to growing cotton, and that’s something all the nominees, and the industry as a whole, share,” Cotton Australia chief executive officer Adam Kay said.

“Importantly, alongside the growers recognised as part of the awards program, we have other industry representatives including researchers and the up-and-coming participants who will make a difference for years to come.”

GTA names life members

Grain Trade Australia awarded Geoff Farnsworth and Lyndon Asser life memberships at the Australia Grains Industry Conference gala dinner last month.

Mr Farnsworth has been an integral part of GTA for more than 20 years, providing valuable legal counsel and advice to GTA boards, chairs and CEOs.

He has served on the GTA Board and many of its committees and has been an integral part GTA’s self-regulatory framework that includes standard-form contracts, trade rules, and the dispute-resolution system.

Mr Asser has recently retired after a long and distinguished career with Viterra and its predecessors in Australia going back to the Australian Barley Board.

“His conduct over a long career in this great industry embodies how we all should conduct ourselves in market with customers, amongst the trade and with our colleagues,” GTA said in presenting the award.

Mr Farnsworth and Mr Asser join existing life members: Chris Kelly; Merv May; Terry Deacon, and Geoff Honey.

Rice awards presented

Josh and Emily Small of Rivena Nominees, from Deniliquin, took out the illustrious C24 SunRice Grower of the Year Award at the 6th annual Rice Industry Awards Gala Dinner held at Moama earlier this month.

The Smalls were celebrated for their impressive adoption of technology and practices to increase water-use efficiency using innovation and technology to improve the way their farm operates.

The Port of Melbourne Highest Yield Awards for the highest yield across various regions went to: Russ Family Farming, Western Murray Valley; Mardenoora Farming, Eastern Murray Valley; FW G & FW Hibbert, Coleambally Irrigation Area; and Allawah Family Trust, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

The Grower Industry Contribution Award went to Bill Holden of Deniliquin, while the Excellence in Extension, Research and Advisory Award winners were Brian and Tina Dunn.

The Yenda Producers Specialist Grain Yield Awards for highest yields by rice variety went to: Patrick Sergi of Widgelli Sergrow Pty Ltd (Topaz), Murrami based Tony Mallamace of Mallamace Family Trust (Langi), Charles McDonald, Barham representing Widderin Past Co (Opus), Antony Vagg of Amaloo Pastoral Co (Koshikari) and Deniliquin based Graeme and Libby Barker of GE & EH Barker (Sherpa).

SunRice Group Grower Services team members Eleanor Fondacaro, Melissa Lyons, and Lisa O’Callaghan were recipients of the Honorary Councillor Award.

All three have worked for SunRice Group for a collective 102 years.

Durham wins Brownhill Cup

Nombi grower Ross Durham has won the Brownhill Cup.

Presented at the AgQuip Grower Forum in Gunnedah last week, the award recognises conservation farming and efficient management practices.

ACIAR names executive team

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research has officially announced its executive team, with James Quilty as general manager research; Laura Timmins as general manager partnerships, and Paul Morgan as general manager corporate.

They join ACIAR chief executive officer Wendy Umberger, who took over from Andrew Campbell in July last year.

“I am excited for our new executive team to unite ACIAR with a clear strategic direction to strengthen partnerships, work more closely with partner countries and have a strong emphasis on climate action in new research investments,” Professor Umberger said.

Dr Quilty joined ACIAR in in 2019 as the research program manager for soil and land management and before this role worked for seven years at the International Rice Research Institute, based in The Philippines.

Before joining ACIAR, Ms Timmins was assistant secretary of the Agriculture Trade and Market Access Branch in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

From 2014 to 2016, she served as an agricultural counsellor to Indonesia, and has worked as a vet in private and government practice in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Mr Morgan brings 30 years’ experience leading corporate and enabling programs across the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ACIAR and has represented the Australian Government on postings to Damascus, Beirut, Abu Dhabi, Accra, Geneva, and Baghdad.

McFarlane joins Pacific Seeds

Pacific Seeds welcomes Asha McFarlane as territory manager northern Western Australia.

As a third-generation wheat and sheep farmer from Doodlakine, WA, Ms McFarlane brings local farming knowledge and enthusiasm to role which will be an advantage for WA farmers and rural supply stores.

Pacific Seeds national sales manager Bradley Jamieson said the appointment was crucial to supporting customers in WA.

“Pacific Seeds and local growers will see a real benefit to having in-field knowledge backed by world-class R&D and the best seed varieties on the market,” Mr Jamieson said.

Ms McFarlane will work with growers and agents throughout the northern Wheatbelt.

Cropify team expands

Adelaide-based company Cropify has appointed Jade Saunders as its grain quality manager.

Mr Saunders started with Cropify early last month, and has come to the company from the National Association of Testing Laboratories.

His experience includes many years working in quality control at Viterra, as well as positions in the malting and food sectors.

“We are thrilled to have Jade join us in this critical role,” Cropify CEO and co-founder Anna Falkiner said.

“Jade’s wealth of experience in grain quality and national technical committees is invaluable to the commercialisation of our objective grain-grading solution.”

Next month, the Cropify team will be expanding further with the appointment of Rebecca Spence as grain quality officer.

Ms Spence comes to Cropify after having worked at Intertek, AmSpec, Viterra, and Dublin Clean Grain.

Lewis joins T-Ports

T-Ports has appointed Hayley Lewis as its grower relations officer.

Prior to joining T-Ports, Ms Lewis worked in operational roles on Eyre Peninsula, and has also managed the University of Adelaide’s grain laboratory at the Waite Institute.

“Through her technical knowledge, innovation and creativity, Hayley has influenced her workplaces positively by tailoring services to suit the specific needs of her customer base,” T-Ports CEO Nathan Kent said.

“Hayley has also harnessed valued one-on-one relationships by leveraging her strong interpersonal skills and her ability to conduct herself respectfully and with integrity at all times, qualities held in high regard at T-Ports.”

Bird steps on to GPSA Board

The Grain Producers South Australia Board has been bolstered by the appointment of Julie Bird as a new independent director.

Ms Bird’s early career path included teaching and working on a family horticulture property, before taking on roles with Quality Fruit Marketing and the Almond Board of Australia.

She has served eight years on the board of Plant Health Australia and is currently chair of Horticulture Innovation Australia and Australian Seafood Industries, and is a director of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

GPSA chair John Gladigau said he was looking forward to the contribution Ms Bird can make to the SA grain industry.

“Her background in agriculture, especially in representing diverse sectors, will be invaluable in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the grain industry,” Mr Gladigau said.

Ms Bird is excited about the opportunity to draw on her past experiences in agriculture and contribute to the SA grain industry’s future.

“While this has been in other sectors of agriculture, there is a lot of similarity in underlying issues and needs,” Ms Bird said.

Egerton wins AgriFutures award

Northern Territorian visionary and First Nations affairs advocate Tanya Egerton has been named the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National winner with Victorian rural health campaigner, Grace Larson, announced as national runner-up.

As founder and CEO of Circulanation and the Remote OpShop Project, Ms Egerton was celebrated for her work in empowering the entrepreneurial aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across remote Australia.

Both women, along with their fellow national finalists, were honoured for their exceptional contributions to rural communities and industries during at a ceremony held at Canberra’s Parliament House this month.

The 2024 cohort also included:

• Rebecca Keeley, Canberra, ACT;
• Kate Lamason, Cairns, Qld;
• Belle Binder, Devonport, Tas;
• Mandy Walker, Wongan Hills, WA; and,
• Nikki Atkinson, Flinders Rangers, SA.

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s premier award recognising and supporting the vital role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities.

“This is a significant honour, and I am deeply appreciative of AgriFutures and Westpac for their belief in my mission to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Ms Egerton said.

AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey praised Ms Egerton for her outstanding contributions to Indigenous communities in remote Australia.

“Her innovative approach and dedication to transforming remote areas resonates deeply with the core values of the Award,” Mr Harvey said.

Gongs for AIR EP, Long

Ag Innovation Research Eyre Peninsula and industry facilitator Jeanette Long have taken home awards at the AgExForum24 gala awards dinner held in Adelaide on August 5.

AIR EP took out the Primary Industries and Resources South Australia Grower Group Award while Jeanette Long won the Ag Excellence Perpetual Award for Outstanding Service to Agriculture.

In only four years of operation, AIR EP’s team has been successful in securing funding for 60 projects with a cumulative value of about $8 million.

“The demonstrated dedication and success in acquiring funding to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of projects underscores its effectiveness in advocating for the needs of the local agricultural community,” South Australian Research Development Institute acting executive chair Hannah Brown said.

Ms Long is a significant contributor to a myriad of agricultural organisations including the Australasian Pacific Extension Network, Ag Excellence and most recently Women together Learning (WoTL).

She has worked throughout Australia and New Zealand with extension personnel and farmers and also provides mentoring support to many young extension professionals.

“Ag Ex has been the recipient of Jeanette’s tireless efforts as chair and committee member for many years and as shown again at today’s forum, she continues to give her time for the benefit of this room and the broader agricultural industry,” Ag Ex chair Leet Wilksch said.

 

 

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THE Australian Oilseeds Alliance has actually anticipated Australia’s new-crop canola at 5,435,000 tonnes coming from 3,240,000 ha, depending on to estimations in its own regular plant record launched today.

The creation price quote is actually the 1st released through AOF this period, and also has actually included 36,000 ha to its own first region price quote launched in very early June of 3,204,000 ha.

Both bodies are actually listed below AOF’s estimations for the 2023-24 plant at 5,802,000 t coming from 3,596,000 ha, and also are actually a little before ABARES newest estimations launched June 4 of 5,385,000 t coming from 3,167,000 ha.

In the record, AOF mentioned the period to day has actually been actually rather unseasonal, along with locations utilized to expected and also valuable drops of storm experiencing extremely completely dry problems, while a number of the generally drier locations have actually possessed great storm.

Primarily, the Victorian Wimmera, southern New South Wales, South Australia’s Eyre Headland, and also Western Australia’s Esperance region have actually struggled with a completely dry begin and also below-average precipitations throughout the period.

On the other hand, core northerly, and also western side NSW and also WA’s Geraldton region have actually possessed above-average precipitations.

” Regardless of the unsatisfactory begin in some crucial locations, the far better locations have actually executed extremely well to day and also are actually appearing vowing for higher turnouts, countering relatively the reductions in other places,” the record mentioned.

Australian canola rates have actually gone up due to the fact that growing, however have actually just recently experienced the body weight of the sizable United States soy bean plant on the oilseed facility.

” Possible canola deficiencies in Canada … and also Europe, nonetheless, might give a strong flooring for Australian canola in the coming months.”

The record points out Canadian creation has actually possessed a mitigation, along with an overdue turn-around in creation estimations, in spite of hotter and also drier problems throughout the summertime.

” Forecasts differ, however opinion often tend to gather around 19.5-19.7 thousand tonnes (Mt), up through greater than 1Mt on the final 2 years.

” Notably, boosted pulverizing ability starting line in Canada has actually affected the destination of exports, such that Canada will certainly often tend to favour higher-value places, consisting of the EU.”

In Europe, yet another warm and also completely dry summertime, incorporated along with flooding storm in shearing locations of France, has actually affected canola turnouts, along with produce amounts down 1.3 Mt coming from in 2013 to 18.5 Mt.

” France’s creation is actually the significant factor to the decrease, being actually down 400,000 t as extremely damp weather condition early in the period affected business and also succeeding return.

” Heat at blooming took 200,000 t off German estimations versus in 2013.

” Decreased creation in the much smaller creation conditions of Romania, Hungary, Latvia and also Czech Commonwealth likewise brought about the decline in creation, which was actually not able to become made up for through light boosts in Slovakia, Ireland, and also Denmark.

” International rapeseed creation has actually gotten on a descending fad over recent many years as limitations on chemical make use of and also specifically warm summertimes have actually affected return.”

” Ukraine creation is actually likewise adverse in 2013, forecasted to become 3.5 Mt, down 1Mt on in 2013.”

Following is actually a round-up of problems through condition:

New South Wales

The early great begin to the NSW period was actually observed through great extensive storm throughout Might, which aided to create great soil-moisture profile pages.

Plants began blooming in the much south west in very early July observed through plants in north and also core NSW later on in the month.

Plants are actually normally on the right track to accomplish normal to above-average turnouts, sustained through excellent soil-moisture amounts, although freeze is actually a considerable threat to the advanced plants.

The overdue and also extremely adjustable in season rest in the southern and also south-western areas, observed through recurring precipitations, has actually been actually ruining to these plants.

Irregular plants are actually properly responsible for traditional development phases, therefore continuous good in season problems are actually important to also accomplish below-average return ability in these locations.

Environment-friendly mango insect has actually existed and also assisted due to the warmer winter months, specifically on the Central West inclines, where turnip yellow infection has actually shown up.

The appealing expectation has actually urged cultivators to spend better in health and nutrition and also ailment security.

Victoria

Victoria’s period began along with a quite completely dry Might and also sub-optimal wetness gets.

Several plants were actually raised completely dry, along with little bit of if any kind of respectable storm in the arising months, specifically in the Western Area, and also some plants were actually deserted through July.

The Wimmera and also southern Mallee made out a little far better, along with near to normal June and also July precipitations allowing reputable plants to benefit.

Cooler-than-average weather condition has actually supplied some reprieve for plants along with minimized transpiration.

While plants with all locations, except Gippsland, want replenishing storm, the Bureau of Weather forecasting’s expectation for neutral to wetter problems has actually enhanced raiser peace of mind and also urged fertilizing where plants appear appealing.

If wetter problems and also projection warmer-than-average temps happen, ailment tension might raise if there is actually a ruptured of biomass development.

South Australia

South Australia’s period possessed a quite unsatisfactory begin, along with a lot drier-than-average problems with all developing locations due to the fact that just before sowing.

Regardless of a wetter-than-average summertime, February onwards was actually extremely completely dry, along with lower than 10mm in developing locations in each April and also Might.

Several cultivators stated a decline in organized or even true region sown to canola, along with many plants raised completely dry.

Rainfall in June performed activate germination, albeit patchy, and also the plant is actually currently managing behind time, at just the 4-6 fallen leave phase through end of July.

The continuing storm in July and also right into August has actually enhanced plant biomass, and also urged cultivators in chosen locations to fertilize their plants.

Turnout forecast has actually been actually drawn back to 1.5 t/ha coming from the current fad of 1.8-2. t/ha.

Western side Australia

Following a warm and also completely dry summertime in WA, and also the lack of any kind of true fall rest in April-May, cultivators drew back on their canola prepares along with a region decline of 10 per-cent.

This boosted better as plants were actually deserted and also resown to various other plants.

Really good storm in July and also right into August was actually far too late for some plants, however, for those that had the capacity to set up, this supplied a great possibility to create biomass.

Later-sown plants in the Geraldton region have actually taken advantage of the July-August rainfalls.

The warmer weather condition, incorporated along with the biomass improvement, has actually triggered boosted tension coming from bugs, specifically environment-friendly mango insect and also precious stone back insect, mainly in the Kwinana region.

Esperance remains to possess unseasonally completely dry problems, along with the minimized canola region anticipated to produce properly second-rate.

Resource: Australian Oilseeds Federation

AUSTRALIA as well as New Zealand’s leading fowl service, Ingham’s Team, possesses today launched its own outcomes for the year to June 29 to present a boost with all vital bodies when compared to FY23 leads.

Nevertheless, FY25 is actually anticipated to view a sag in center fowl because of the phased intro of Ingham’s brand new source arrangement along with Woolworths, as well as the recurring results of cost-of-living stress on customers.

In FY24, Ingham’s center fowl amount of 476,400 tonnes was actually up 2.8 per-cent coming from the FY23 end result, while the center internet market price of $6.28/ kilograms was actually up 5.4 personal computer coming from FY23.

Hidden incomes prior to passion, tax, loss of value as well as amortisation of $240.1 thousand were actually up 30.8 personal computer, as well as 50.4 pennies on a per kilograms manner, consisting of 47.7 c/kg for Australia as well as 66c/kg for New Zealand.

Hidden internet revenue after tax obligation of $109.2 M was actually up 31.3 personal computer coming from FY23.

” In FY24, Ingham’s has actually provided its own best incomes on a hidden pre AASB 16 manner given that list in 2016,” Ingham’s ceo as well as handling supervisor Andrew Reeves mentioned in a declaration.

” Our solid outcomes are actually derived through amount development, strengthened scopes, as well as great price command as well as functional results all over each farming as well as handling.

” The vital lasting principles sustaining the fowl field stay in location, along with fowl remaining to be actually the inexpensive healthy protein of selection for customers.”

Ingham’s center fowl intensity observed a switch in network mix to retail, along with retail loudness upward 20,900 t coming from FY23 as customers reacted to cost-of-living stress through raising the regularity of at home eating.

This intensity development was actually somewhat made up for through a decline in loudness in quick-service dining establishments as well as various other out-of-home networks.

Ingham’s mentioned its own greater center fowl internet asking price observed rate rises carried out in FY23 as well as FY24 in reaction to boost in the present inflationary atmosphere.

Feed as well as assets

Ingham’s is among Australia’s most extensive stockfeed millers, as well as mentioned prices of vital feed inputs regulated during the course of FY24, along with the planet rate of wheat or grain dropping 4.1 personal computer in the 2nd one-half, as well as CME soy bean worths falling 15.5 personal computer.

Ingham’s mentioned it anticipated soy bean dish rates to regulate in to 2025 because of enhanced source because of a development in development in South The United States.

Outside feed intensity marketed coming from Ingham’s plants dropped because of the full-year result of its own closing of its own feedmill at Wanneroo in Western Australia in April 2023.

Interior feed boost $10.1 M over FY24, as well as the team’s price of purchases enhanced $129.5 M because of development in intensity, standard price rising cost of living, as well as the transformation for $19M of a “considerable variety of gardener deals” coming from planned performance-based changeable deals.

These rises were actually somewhat made up for through productivities as well as an enhancement in functional functionality.

Ingham’s primary achievements in FY24 were actually the Bromley Playground Hatcheries in New Zealand for $6.6 M, as well as Bolivar, its own key handling resource in South Australia found in Adelaide’s northerly residential areas.

Ingham’s paid for $75.6 M for the property as well as properties at the formerly rented web site.

In WA, Ingham’s brand new Hazelmere circulation center began procedures in January, as well as possesses all around dual the ability of its own previous centers.

In March, Ingham’s introduced the accomplishment of the Bostock Brothers all natural chick service in New Zealand for $35.3 M, as well as business was actually gotten on July 1.

Ingham’s likewise devoted $9.3 M on the northerly New South Wales dog breeder triangular in the Online casino area.

4 deboning equipments installed

Ingham’s FY24 leads record the installment each of its own brand new deboning equipments, 2 at its own Murarrie vegetation in Brisbane, Queensland, one at Bolivar in SA, as well as one at Somerville on the Mornington Cape near Melbourne in Victoria.

The equipments can easily debone 6000 lower legs every hr, as well as make use of an X-ray device to accurately evaluate each lower leg, as well as instantly change apiece in real-time.

Secret perks of the deboning equipments are actually mentioned as strengthened work performance, greater turnout healing, enhanced throughput, as well as strengthened item premium.

They added dramatically to Ingham’s financial investment of $21.4 M in computerization devices.

Resource: Ingham’s