GIWA report indicates record harvest on the way, as Midwest farmers experience increased canola, lupins yield

The Grain Industry Association of WA has released its latest crop report for November, indicating a delayed start to harvest will likely see a record tonnage for Western Australia. A later than normal start to harvest in WA is mainly due to the very cool, mild conditions in spring, continuing right up until now. Whilst some growers who want to get their crop off may be frustrated, it has fuelled the extra tonnes that will likely see this harvest exceed the record 24 million tonnes produced in 2021. The GIWA estimates the Geraldton zone will produce 2.9 million tonnes of wheat, 250,000 tonnes of barley, 500,000 tonnes of canola, 5000 tonnes of oats, 320,000 tonnes of lupins and 2000 tonnes of pulses. The total figure of 3.977 million tonnes is third in the State, behind Kwinana (11.310 million) and Albany (5.030 million). While very little crop has been harvested so far across WA, farmers here in the Mid West are experiencing greater than average canola yields. According to GIWA, growers in Geraldton are well into canola harvest with crops yielding 200 to 400kg/ha more than last year while plenty of paddocks are averaging greater than 2.2t/ha The report also notes that canola oil percentages have been mostly in the high 40s, whereas oil percentages in the rest of the State have been quite varied. The lupins crop has been described as “exceptional” with yields well above average. Both canola and lupin grain yields are expected to exceed 2021 figures. Average wheat yields across the Midwest region are expected to be similar to 2021 and although little has come off to date, what has is yielding very well.