THE final numbers for the SA harvest are in, with graingrowers producing a record-breaking 11.1 million tonnes in 2016-17 worth about $2.2 billion at the farmgate.
The figure beats the previous record set five years ago by 0.8mt – allaying earlier concerns graingrowers would experience higher losses from SA’s extreme weather conditions in late 2016.
While this industry exports bulk grain, it also produces and exports significant tonnages of oaten hay and small seeds, including lucerne for sprouting and sowing pasture for grazing livestock.
SA is also the largest lentil producing and exporting state in the country, bringing in 448,000t in the 2016-17 harvest worth an estimated $260 million at the farmgate.
The figures are from the March – and final 2016-17 – edition of PIRSA’s Crop and Pasture Report.
PIRSA grains account manager Dave Lewis said the record crop was thanks to ideal rainfall and growing conditions throughout the year.
“Summer rains during harvest have added to the subsoil moisture stores, but summer weeds need to be controlled to retain this for the new season crop,” he said.
“Of course our high crop yields are also the result of the investments farmers are making in innovation, new and emerging technologies and the adoption of smarter farm management practices.
“While seasonal conditions will always have an effect on yields, innovative cropping and pasture management are important to unlock productivity and help our industry build a stronger competitive advantage.
“This year’s harvest was one of the latest finishes in recent memory with many areas completing harvest as late as February due to rain delays.
“Fortunately, the rains, apart from reducing grain protein slightly, did not cause significant grain spoilage (sprouting and discolouration) until the very last few weeks of the harvest.”
Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said it was incredible to see how much grain SA farmers had grown, through challenging circumstances.
“We’ve officially broken the yield records for wheat, barley, lentils and hay,” he said.
“Viterra has done a fantastic job working with the industry to prepare for this bumper crop, boosting its storage, handling and shipping capacity.
“SA graingrowers are a vital part of the state’s economy – in 2015–16, they generated $4.4 billion in revenue with about 85 per cent of their grain exported to countries, including Indonesia, China and Vietnam.
“Whether you live in the city of the country, everyone in SA benefits when our farmers produce great crops.”
- Details: pir.sa.gov.au/cropreport
