Viterra braces for harvest as grain deliveries begin

This is despite the company closing 12 silo sites earlier this year and 17 last year.

Mr Hill said the 55 sites remaining open this harvest had received up to 97 per cent of the crop last season.

"We also built 150,000t of storage (including at Roseworthy, Cummins and Snowtown) before last year's harvest, so we think that will cover this year," he said.

"We also did capital works to make sure the turnaround times for growers are as efficient as possible.

"We have a strong shipping program this year, along with containers and the domestic demand, driven by confidence that there will be a bit more grain floating about this year. We expect to see less grain heading east and a return to a more normal exporting year."

Viterra has recruited 1800 staff to handle this year's deliveries - a process which faced some hurdles because of COVID-19.

"We would normally hire a lot of backpackers, but with COVID-19 and border closures, we have attracted a lot more locals and past employees," Mr Hill said.

"There has also been a lot of work going on to mitigate COVID-19 risks, including health plans for employees and for those delivering to site, sanitisation, minimal handling of paperwork, and reducing shift overlaps. We are prepared if a scenario arises."

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Mr Hill said there were still harvest positions available on the Eyre Peninsula and in the Mid North.

At the weekend, the first loads of barley and peas were delivered into Viterra's Port Pirie and Gladstone silo sites, respectively.

Mambray Creek's Barry Mudge offered up the first loads of barley, which had finished "a bit quicker than usual" because of the warm and dry September.

"Despite the early finish, we're happy with our quality and to receive Barley 1 grade on our first load," he said.