In the end, GrainCorp received 12.8 million tonnes of grain, while in Western Australia, CBH brought in 14.2 million tonnes.
The big crop from the eastern seaboard was largely expected thanks to favourable rain, but the strong numbers in WA surprised many industry pundits considering the fairly challenging seasonal conditions.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics predicted 51.5 million tonnes of grain was harvested across the country overall, with some going to smaller grain stores such as Emerald Grain and Australian Growers Direct in addition to being stored on-farm for personal use or later sale.
It all adds up to the second biggest harvest on record, only beaten by the 56.7 million tonne 2016-17 harvest.
GrainCorp received 3.5 million tonnes from NSW growers, 3.5 million tonnes from Victoria growers and 955,600 tonnes from Queensland.
These final figures aren’t entirely accurate because of continued harvest activity after the handing down of the company’s latest 2020-21 report.
In NSW the Parkes, Wyalong and Cunningar regions still had grain to deliver and the Wimmera and central Victoria regions stayed active for several more weeks.
Local receival sites such as Elmore and Dookie steamrolled their previous receival records, with Elmore recording a 178,000 tonnes harvest this year compared to the 2016-17's 159,000 tonnes.
Dookie growers managed to break a decade-long record, beating out 2010-11's 113,000 tonne harvest with the 135,000 tonne 2020-21 harvest.
Australia’s largest grain exporter, CBH, proudly declared the 2020-21 harvest its safest on record, with a 7.2 All Injury Frequency Rate.
CBH chief executive Jimmy Wilson said the harvest was smaller than usual but still good.
“The Albany zone weathered the season better than others, even managing to break a season receival record at our Cranbrook site,” Mr Wilson said.
“We moved a large amount of grain through our system during the year to meet demand from customers and fulfil shipping requirements.
“This has resulted in the smallest volume of carryover in our system in more than 15 years and significantly improved the loss position of the division.”
The national wheat harvest has been pencilled in at a monster 31.2 million tonnes, essentially double the 2019-20 crop.
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