❓ Mr Cowper asks for an update on the grain harvest. The Minister reports a record harvest of over 15 million tonnes, acknowledges contributions from various stakeholders, and highlights government support for the agricultural sector.
AnsweredQoN 27Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GRAIN HARVEST
27. Mr M.J. COWPER to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
The minister told the house late last year of predictions for
an excellent grain harvest over the summer. Now that the harvest is virtually
complete, can the minister update the house how it went?
27. Mr M.J. COWPER to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
The minister told the house late last year of predictions for
an excellent grain harvest over the summer. Now that the harvest is virtually
complete, can the minister update the house how it went?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Murray–Wellington for the
question and, of course, his long-term interest in agriculture. The house will
recall that at the end of last year I gave, with the best information I had at
the time, the grain harvest estimate for the 2011–12 season. I said 13 million
tonnes, which was true at the time; that was potentially the second biggest
harvest on the Western Australian record list. In January of this year,
Co-operative Bulk Handling reported that receivals had passed 14.7 million
tonnes, which was the previous record set in 2004. I am pleased to announce—it
probably should already be known by those who are part of the agricultural
industry—that a delivery into the Pingrup CBH bin last week meant that
the total harvest was more than 15 million tonnes, which is a fantastic outcome
for the grain-producing sectors of the agricultural areas of Western Australia.
That is extremely remarkable considering the season they went through in 2010,
which was one of the worst on record. I would like to acknowledge and highlight
the cooperative effort of all those involved in the supply chain to produce
that outcome. Yes, the farmers delivered a record season in terms of quantity,
but there are also the people involved with CBH and the handling processes, the
consultants, and the bankers. All those people in the regional Western
Australian supply chain should be very proud of hitting a new benchmark for
production in Western Australia. It certainly shows what we can produce, what
our potential is, and, obviously, what the agricultural areas can contribute to
the economy of Western Australia.
I would also like to highlight that
it reinstates Western Australia's dominance in the grain-production
sector—we are the biggest producer, producing around about 40 per cent
of the national grain harvest—and also the support that the Liberal–National
government has given, particularly, to the grain sector, given its dominance in
Western Australia. There has been the announcement of a $30 million
contribution towards the Australian Export Grain Innovation Centre, which will
be centred in Western Australia—the biggest grain-producing state in the
nation. There is the New Genes for New Environments facilities providing
investments in research and development at Katanning and Merredin, there is the
opening of some new markets, and some extra focus will be put on post–farm
gate investments around market development opportunities and in capacity
building in farm business skills.
There is no doubt that this government strongly supports the
agricultural sector, particularly the grain sector, given its dominance in
Western Australia. Despite the record harvest, I recognise the challenges that
many farmers still have out there, particularly post the 2010 season, and
despite the good harvest it will be some time before many farmers, particularly
to the south of the Great Eastern Highway, get back to where they would like to
be from a business perspective. Certainly, I acknowledge all the efforts of the
regional communities and farmers in achieving that outcome; it is a great
record for Western Australia and it should give us some confidence in the
agriculture sector.
question and, of course, his long-term interest in agriculture. The house will
recall that at the end of last year I gave, with the best information I had at
the time, the grain harvest estimate for the 2011–12 season. I said 13 million
tonnes, which was true at the time; that was potentially the second biggest
harvest on the Western Australian record list. In January of this year,
Co-operative Bulk Handling reported that receivals had passed 14.7 million
tonnes, which was the previous record set in 2004. I am pleased to announce—it
probably should already be known by those who are part of the agricultural
industry—that a delivery into the Pingrup CBH bin last week meant that
the total harvest was more than 15 million tonnes, which is a fantastic outcome
for the grain-producing sectors of the agricultural areas of Western Australia.
That is extremely remarkable considering the season they went through in 2010,
which was one of the worst on record. I would like to acknowledge and highlight
the cooperative effort of all those involved in the supply chain to produce
that outcome. Yes, the farmers delivered a record season in terms of quantity,
but there are also the people involved with CBH and the handling processes, the
consultants, and the bankers. All those people in the regional Western
Australian supply chain should be very proud of hitting a new benchmark for
production in Western Australia. It certainly shows what we can produce, what
our potential is, and, obviously, what the agricultural areas can contribute to
the economy of Western Australia.
I would also like to highlight that
it reinstates Western Australia's dominance in the grain-production
sector—we are the biggest producer, producing around about 40 per cent
of the national grain harvest—and also the support that the Liberal–National
government has given, particularly, to the grain sector, given its dominance in
Western Australia. There has been the announcement of a $30 million
contribution towards the Australian Export Grain Innovation Centre, which will
be centred in Western Australia—the biggest grain-producing state in the
nation. There is the New Genes for New Environments facilities providing
investments in research and development at Katanning and Merredin, there is the
opening of some new markets, and some extra focus will be put on post–farm
gate investments around market development opportunities and in capacity
building in farm business skills.
There is no doubt that this government strongly supports the
agricultural sector, particularly the grain sector, given its dominance in
Western Australia. Despite the record harvest, I recognise the challenges that
many farmers still have out there, particularly post the 2010 season, and
despite the good harvest it will be some time before many farmers, particularly
to the south of the Great Eastern Highway, get back to where they would like to
be from a business perspective. Certainly, I acknowledge all the efforts of the
regional communities and farmers in achieving that outcome; it is a great
record for Western Australia and it should give us some confidence in the
agriculture sector.
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