SA grain farmers rejoice as record high-value harvest predicted after weathering storm

Three weeks ago SA grain producers were tallying their losses as the worst storm in six years nearly derailed their harvests. Now they’re set for a record season – and record profits.

SA grain farmers finally have something to celebrate in record profits after weathering a storm which nearly derailed the start of harvest.

The latest SA crop and pasture report estimates that the 2022-23 harvest season will see a record high production of 12.1 million tonnes of grain worth a farm gate value of $4.4 billion.

The new estimate breaks last year’s record high value return to farmers of $3.3 billion.

The report cited that the effects of SA’s worst storm since 2016, which delayed the season by weeks, were ameliorated by favourable conditions at the end of spring.

Grain grower Tim Polkinghorne at Lock, SA, finishing harvest in 2021. Picture: Rob Lang

Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven said farmers finally have something to celebrate after tough conditions.

“Even allowing for some downgrades of the grain quality due to weather damage, high global grain prices mean the harvest also has a record high farm gate value,” Ms Scriven said.

“This is fantastic news for our farmers as well as South Australia’s economy.”

Chairman of Grain Producers SA Adrian McCabe said this season’s harvest predictions will have a lasting positive impact for farmers.

“This is going to be enormous as it is massive grain yields at the highest prices,” Mr McCabe said.

The successful yields will consolidate profits or recoup losses as farmers across the state have seen varied harvests in recent years Mr McCabe said.

“If your area is like Parilla and Lock it’ll right the wrongs of last couple of years which have been pretty tough for those areas but for those who have been profitable it’ll be a massive year for them,” he said.

Adrian McCabe chairman of Grain Producers SA, with a canola crop at Alma SA.

The high grain prices come as prominent producers globally have suffered.

“This is unfortunately off the back of Ukraine being in war and droughts in the US and South America which is pushing a lot of people into poverty on the equator,” Mr McCabe said.

“So while it’s great for SA we actually need all this grain to get it out to the rest of the world because there’s none around.”

Mr McCabe is a grain producer himself with a farm at Hamley Bridge.

“We’re seeing canola yields being particularly high and it’s the best canola crop we’ve seen on average in the district,” he said.

And yet the successes could even be larger than estimated Mr McCabe said.

“PIRSA have come out with that 12 million number (tonnes of grain) but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was exceeded.”