First grain delivered to silos

Jesse Chandler delivered the first load of Commodus barley to Thevenard silos on September 24, farming with his brother Harlee, father Milton and mother Tracey at Charra on South Australia's west coast.

Earliest harvest on record for the Chandlers

Milton Chandler said it was the earliest they had ever harvested. They reaped on Thursday, a day earlier than their previous record in 2014 or 2015 when they harvested the Friday before the AFL grand final.

“I think it was 14 or 15 we reaped the Friday before the AFL grand final and delivered on the Monday and this year we reaped on the Thursday so we're a day in front.”

Crop has been textbook this year

Milton Chandler estimates they will harvest about 4 tonnes to the hectare with their barley. He said the crop has not had a setback all season, unlike normal years when there is a moisture check during growing.

“Normally even in our good years we'll have a period during the growing season when the crop will have a bit of a moisture check but this year it's almost been textbook.”

Best conditions since 1980

Milton Chandler has farmed at Charra since 1980 and says this is the best the crop has ever looked. He notes the strong conditions are statewide, which is positive for everyone in South Australia.

“I've been farming here since 1980, and this is the best it's ever looked. It's great, and it's fantastic that it's statewide so it's a real positive for everyone.”

PIRSA forecasts 11.591 million tonnes

Primary Industries and Regions SA revised up the state's crop yield forecast in its September report. PIRSA estimates 11,591,000 tonnes will be harvested from 4,234,000 hectares sown this year across all regions.

High input costs squeeze margins

Growers need every tonne to offset low grain prices and high input costs. Milton Chandler paid three dollars and twenty-seven cents per litre for diesel during seeding, and says even with big yields the logistics of handling such a large crop will be difficult.

“We did buy a little bit of diesel through seeding at $3.27; that hurt a little bit, that was a bit of a wake-up call.”

Bunge prepares for early harvest rush

Bunge director of industrial management Gavin Cavanagh said the bulk grain handler expected to receive more grain than normal in October given the early start. Bunge puts on an extra 1,500 jobs each year for harvest, including overseas workers.

“We are expecting that we will receive more than we normally would in October given the good start the farmers had and the early plant on the back of those good opening rains.”

Recent storms deliver timely rain

Recent storms delivered 15 to 40 millimetres of rain across South Australia. Robin Schaefer at Loxton received 17 millimetres on October 2, which will benefit most of his crop still in the field, particularly his lentils with exceptional biomass.

“It was a lovely surprise. Some of our very early barley is pretty close to going now so that won't benefit, but the majority, I'd say at least two thirds or more of our crop would still benefit.”