WITH the world awash with grain and a bumper Australian crop forecast, a new campaign was launched this week by an industry super-group which focuses on grain hygiene this harvest.
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The working group will be headed by the Grain Industry Association of SA, which represents all grain marketing organisations in the state.
It is also supported Grain Producers SA, GrainGrowers, Viterra, GrainCorp, SAGIT, GRDC, PIRSA, the fodder industry and agronomy consultants.
The campaign, called Keep Our Grain Clean, encourages all grains industry participants to continue to keep the state’s grain clean, ensuring all grain meets market requirements and is within physical, chemical and biological tolerance limits.
GIASA chair Lachlan Allen said SA already had a good reputation for providing clean, green agricultural products.
“But the world is awash with grain at the moment, so any advantage we can get on our competitors or even open up new markets, is really important to the industry,” he said.
“We continually need to remind ourselves that the commodity we’re handling is not just any commodity.
“Grain is a food, which will ultimately be used for animal or human consumption.
“We just want to remind growers to keep up the good work and to really focus on doing whatever they can to keep our grain of the highest quality.”
Mr Allen said while clean grain started at the grower level, the onus was also on every member of the grain supply chain.
“In previous years, companies have sent out their separate messages back through their networks,” he said.
“This new campaign brings all those groups together as one team to send a positive and consistent message throughout the chain.”
The campaign, which will run throughout harvest, is the first of its kind in SA and possibly Australia, where all players of the grain supply chain – from growers, consultants, marketers, traders, advocacy, storage and handling, R&D and government – are represented in a bid to make an impact on farm practices for the good of the whole industry.
“There will be interest from other states to see how the group goes about it, because it is a really important issue and if successful, could possibly be rolled out into other states,” Mr Allen said.
Keep Our Grain Clean posters will be displayed at bulk handler facilities and other relevant sites, while up-to-date information will also be relayed through social media and on the PIRSA website.
“Deliver the best possible grain you can and if there is any issues, to get in contact with your local grain merchant, advisor or consultant,” Mr Allen said.
- Details: pir.sa.gov.au/cleangrain
