A ‘very good year’ for Geraldton harvest according to latest GIWA report

The Grain Industry Association of WA has released its latest crop report for January 2023 indicating a “very good year” for Geraldton on the back of another record year for the State. Grain growers in WA are in the final stages of harvesting another record grain crop and the predicted back-to-back record production is now a reality. The increase has been fuelled by a repeat of good growing conditions, a large area of crop planted and a mild finish over the whole of the grain-growing regions according to the GIWA report. The GIWA estimates the Geraldton zone will produce 3.12 million tonnes of wheat, 240,000 tonnes of barley, 570,000 tonnes of canola, 5000 tonnes of oats, 380,000 tonnes of lupins and 2000 tonnes of pulses. The total figure of 4.32Mt is third in the State, behind Kwinana (12.18Mt) and Albany (5.53Mt). The report notes all areas of the Geraldton Port zone had a very good year and there were no weak spots in the north and east where grain yields often fall away. While a dry July did quite a bit of damage to early sown crops, all crops planted during the main season planting window yielded more than ever before. “Final grain tonnage will end up being similar to 2021, although for many, it has been a more profitable year, particularly where growers made use of early season grain pricing to lock in the higher prices on offer,” the report states.