THE ANNOUNCEMENT last week of a $4 million investment by Viterra in falling number machines has been welcomed by SAFF grain committee chairman Michael Schaefer, but he warns that it is a small step on the way to improving the company's service and accountability.
"We welcome the fact that Viterra is getting these extra machines and that all sites will be receiving a machine," he said.
"Like all farmers have had to do, Viterrra had to upgrade its equipment and capacity. "But I think the amount of the investment is actually insignificant when you look at losses that occurred across the board by growers and the income the business received from the 10-million tonne harvest."
Many improvements still needed to be made in the supply chain.
With SA grain at the mercy of classifications done at harvest time, any company providing bulk handling needs to provide this service as a given," he said. "SAFF grain committee wants South Australia to be the best place in the world to come and buy grain and participate in the grain industry.
"This is just one step along the way of a lot of improvement that needs to occur, particularly around information flow and shipping stems."
