SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Grain receivals totaled 667,500 tonnes in GrainCorp’s initial 2024-25 harvest report on Oct. 21, which noted overall commodity quality has been “excellent” for the eastern Australia region.

The totals include 613,000 tonnes in Queensland and 54,500 tonnes in New South Wales (NSW), with Victoria receivals yet to begin. The report excludes winter crop receivals prior to Oct. 1 and direct-to-port receivals.

GrainCorp said harvest has begun across central and southern Queensland, with chickpeas, wheat and barley being delivered into sites around Mount McLaren, Yamala, Meandarra and Goondiwindi.

“In northern NSW, deliveries of mainly canola and barley are coming into the Burren Junction, Moree and Dubbo regions, with activity expected to build again in the coming week following some rain events,” GrainCorp said. “Farther south in NSW, sites in the Griffith region have begun receiving samples. Many growers in these regions are preparing for harvest by windrowing their canola crops.”

Overall, Australia is forecast to harvest 29 million tonnes of wheat for 2024-25, up 3 million tonnes from 2023-24, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. Barley production is seen at 11.5 million tonnes, which would be 700,000 tonnes above the previous year. 

Another strong year is anticipated for canola as well, with the FAS projecting Australia to harvest 6.5 million tonnes of the oilseed, up from 5.7 million tonnes in 2023-24.