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GrainCorp signals 'strong' harvest

Western Plains App

River McCrossen

06 December 2025, 2:40 AM

GrainCorp signals 'strong' harvestThe region's harvest has passed faster compared to 2024. IMAGE: River McCrossen

Grain Corp says grain quality has been "strong" in the Western Plains as harvest winds down across the region.

 

In the company's Dubbo North and Dubbo West clusters - which include Coonamble, Gulargambone, Narromine, Nevertire, Tottenham, Nyngan and Trangie - combined receivals have reached more than 1.1 million tonnes.

 

In the Burren Junction cluster - which covers Burren Junction, Cyron, Merah North, Merrywinebone and Walgett - receivals have now surpassed 560,000 tonnes, with the Burren Junction site itself setting a new receival record.


 

A GrainCorp spokesperson said they mainly received wheat.


For some growers, harvest continues and while much has been stored on farm there are still options for deliveries.


"Growers are encouraged to contact their local Site Managers for details on deliveries, opening hours, and segregations," the spokesperson said.

 

"Our teams remain committed to working flexibly with growers to ensure continued grain receivals."


Despite storms that damaged crops in parts of the Western Plains, agronomists said harvest had been largely good. IMAGE: River McCrossen


Agronomists who spoke to the Western Plains App agreed that the year has generally trended well.

 

"With seasonal conditions during the year, we got off to a good, timely start," Walgett-based agronomist Greg Rummery said.

 

"With the size of the crop we had, which is well above average, we'd have really loved another fall of rain in early October or late September.

 


"We didn't get that. That's just farming, but our crops really came home remarkably well given we didn't have a lot of spring rain."

 

Mr Rummery, who covers a patch within the Walgett, Moree and Narrabri areas, said growers with a handle on fertiliser fared better.

 

He and other local agronomists also said the bulk of farmers have finished harvesting in their areas.

 

The GrainCorp spokesperson said on 5 December that their Wyalong and Parkes clusters further south are still receiving "strong volumes" after a cooler start to harvest delayed activity.

 

Coonabarabran agronomist James Flemming said results were "quite patchy" in his area.

 

"I think it really came down to moisture, to where it rained. The storms are quite patchy around the place," he said.


 

"You could tell where we didn't get that late spring rain to finish crop. Where we didn't get it, it didn't finish the crop. Where we did, they were pretty good.

 

"It shows how important managing rainfall and storing moisture is."

 

Pockets of growers in the Come By Chance area also reported crop damage due to storms over the last few months.

 

Out in Coonamble, agronomist Tom Cullen said wheat and barley panned out well for some properties with ability to handle tougher conditions due to stored moisture.

 

However, he said initial frosts in late August-early September, followed by excessive heat, didn't do chickpeas any favour.

 

"Every year is different. It's amazing how that's so true, but sowing times again is the biggest driver of yield, and just being prepared a bit better to be able to sow earlier," he said.

 

"Anything we saw that was sowed late, or even sown on time, missed a bit of early rain to get it established.

 

"It (the season) was pretty favorable for most part, except for the last six weeks where those target yields just fell."