Grain quality in Victoria and NSW shines

Above average rainfall during the cropping season has boosted quality of grain for the eastern states of Australia.

GrainCorp’s trading director, Asia, Michael Jester says rainfall in the eastern states of Australia was above average this season. Picture: Zoe Phillips.

IDEAL  weather conditions have helped produce high-quality grain across cropping areas in Victoria and NSW.

GrainCorp’s trading director, Asia, Michael Jester, who presented at this year’s Australian Grain Industry Conference, indicated rainfall in the eastern states of Australia was above average this season.

“The rainfall pattern for the 2020 growing season when compared against the average is 50 per cent and up to 100 per cent above average in NSW,” he said. “The quality profile of wheat in NSW is 27 per cent Australian Premium White and a good percentage of hard wheat.”

He attributed the high quality result in the state to NSW experiencing devastating drought conditions in past two or three years.

“This means soil is full of nitrogen and we can see that with the high yields and good quality produced,” Mr Jester said.

Growing conditions and rainfall patterns were similar in Victoria, with rainfall about 20-30 per cent above average.

“The quality profile further south received 30 per cent hard wheat and 70 per cent Australian Premium White, Australian Standard White and some feed wheat,” he said.

“Some feed wheat sales have been committed out of Victoria into Asian destinations.”

But while there were impressive weather conditions in Victoria and NSW this season, Queensland experienced below-average conditions.

“But we do have a strong forecast that Queensland should receive above average rain for the next few months, which would solve the problem that we see now,” he said.

“And in the medium term forecast we see that the La Nina is weakening.

“So we are very optimistic for the 2021-22 crop as well and I think the Australian crop received and crop to be received will be a very competitive player for wheat and barley supplies over the next two years.”

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