CBH receives more than 21 million tonnes

Operations Update

* Tonnes stated are accurate as of Monday morning, 10 January 2022.

While the pace of grain deliveries has slowed this week, the CBH Group has received an additional 580,000 tonnes, bringing the record-breaking crop total to 21 million tonnes. 

While many growers have now finished harvest and more sites have closed for the season, Acting Chief Operations Officer Mick Daw acknowledged that there is still more grain still to be delivered, especially in the Albany zone.

"Congratulations to all of the growers who have now finished harvest." 

"We have faced many challenges this year from natural disasters, to labour and skill shortages, COVID-19 related restrictions and everything else in-between."

"However, one of the greatest surprises for CBH and our grower members has been this years' record harvest, of which we have received a staggering 21 million tonnes to date."

"Preparing our supply chain and network to receive, handle and outload this bumper crop has been a key focus. This year we built and added 2.3 million tonnes of emergency storage at 33 sites in our network - which is 10 per cent of our total storage capacity, mobilised and operational within months."

"While there could be another 400,000 tonnes to be delivered, we are staying focused on getting the remaining crop in safely and efficiently, cleaning up sites and transitioning to out-loading."

"I would like to thank and congratulate our grower members for their hard-work and patience, and thank our employees and contractors for their massive effort in helping us safely receive this bumper crop."

Any changes to COVID-19 procedure will be communicated through the CDF app, as will changes on the availability of services, including permanent closures. 

If you have any issues with the CDF app, please contact the Grower Service Centre. 

Zone Summary

Albany Zone

• The Albany zone received 210,000 tonnes last week, taking the zone total to 4,250,000 tonnes.
• There is estimated to be approximately 200,000 tonnes to come in.
• Most primary sites remain open. Cranbrook and Mirambeena will be the last country sites to close, while Albany Grain Terminal will continue to receive late deliveries of most grains.
• Thanks to growers and transporters who worked with us to receiving a record crop, contractors building emergency storages, tarping contractors for their tireless work covering stacks and building emergency bulkheads and the Albany zone CBH team – an amazing effort from everyone.

Esperance Zone

• The Esperance zone total is currently sitting at 3,550,000 tonnes after 75,000 tonnes were delivered last week.
• A handful of sites remain open for growers to deliver final tonnages. On-farm silo bags are coming in at a steady pace with a high number still to come in from around the zone to the port or receival sites that are open.
• Thankyou to all of our growers, contractors, transporters and staff for what has been a challenging and extremely rewarding harvest for all involved. The collaboration between these groups was exceptional.
• Key highlights of the season are: 
  • 8 out of 13 sites broke daily receival records
  • 10 sites of 13 had their best ever season
  • The number plate recognition trial worked well.
  • The zone shipping total for October-December was almost 700,000 tonnes.

Geraldton Zone

• The Geraldton zone has some last minutes tonnes trickling in but is all but finished.
• The 60,000 tonnes delivered last week have taken the zone total to 3,900,000 tonnes. 
• This season has seen many sites break all time receival records and daily receival records but one of considerable note is that Mingenew received 643,460 tonnes, an all time country receival record outside of the four Ports. 
• Thanks to everyone involved in making this harvest successful, including our growers, transporters, contractors and staff.

Kwinana North Zone

• The Kwinana North Zone received 130,000 tonnes last week to bring the zone total to 5,100,000 tonnes
• With less than 50,000 tonnes estimated to be delivered, only 5 or 6 sites will still be open with most closing at the end of this week.
• Key highlights for the season included receiving a record harvest for the zone and many site and daily records.
• Thanks to all growers, contractors and staff that had a part in receiving the record crop, allowing us to achieve a record harvest for the zone and many daily and total site records.

Kwinana South Zone

• The Kwinana South Zone has received 4,200,000 tonnes, with 105,000 tonnes received last week.
• Daily receivals are declining quickly with less than 50,000 tonnes expected to be delivered to the 10 sites remaining open across the zone.
• A big thank you to all Kwinana South growers for their patience and respect shown to our frontline staff, during a challenging period for all. 
• Key highlights are:
  • a significant improvement in health and safety outcomes;
  • great team effort from our frontline staff; and
  • excellent effort from our CBH support functions and planning teams. 

Market Update

Grain markets last week continued to drift lower with APW1 prices falling below $360 per tonne FIS Kwinana for the first time in three months and feed barley prices hitting $260 per tonne FIS Kwinana, the lowest prices seen in the past six months. Lower values were a combination of lack of international interest with most buyers still on vacation combined with a general softening in markets with no news to move markets either way. Grower selling has also slowed as lower values are not attracting any significant interest, and with growers now on vacation we are not expecting large volumes until later in the month.

Canola markets recovered during the week closing at $865 per tonne FIS Kwinana on the back of some short covering as the trade positioned itself against existing shipping commitments.

Market are continuing to watch the impact of Omicron and the possible impact to supply chains and demand. Obviously with the significant increase in cases in Australia there may be some impact to agricultural supply chains.

Harvest Heroes

Each year, our existing CBH staff are joined by hundreds of harvest employees, and as a team they work together to receive the WA crop as safely and efficiently as possible. We want to highlight some of these harvest heroes who help make our grain supply chain the best in the world, and make harvest our favourite time of year.

Meg Reynolds and Jack Kirby are both Receival Point Operators In Charge (RPOIC) in the Kwinana South zone. This season, Meg ran the Meckering site and Jack was responsible for Tammin.

Both Meg and Jack started working with CBH as harvest casuals last season. This harvest they each stepped up to take on significantly more responsibility as RPOICs and have received recognition from colleagues and growers for their outstanding work.

Meg has particularly been praised by the safety team for her excellent pre-start meetings, setting clear expectations and a positive tone each day for all staff. Meg also has great attention to detail, using this to upskill inexperienced harvest staff to ensure they could safely and competently complete their assigned tasks.

At Tammin, Jack used his exceptional organisational skills to ensure the site ran smoothly and that hygiene was maintained to a very high standard throughout the season. Jack also put a lot of effort into training and mentoring his staff, which resulted in excellent performance from everyone working there. Communication with growers was also something that Jack focused on and has been acknowledged for.

Being able to run a receival site with only one year of harvest experience is no easy job, but Meg and Jack both took everything in their stride and led by example in everything they did. 

It’s people like Meg and Jack who make up our team of Harvest Heroes.