GRAIN harvesting across NSW escalated last week, as the wet weather pattern that hovered over much of the state for the best part of two weeks gradually disappeared.
This meant a jump in grain deliveries into the GrainCorp storage network after a painfully slow start to harvest.
Growers took full advantage of the dry weather with large deliveries in the Wyalong, Moree and Dubbo areas, according to GrainCorp.
GrainCorp said it received about 750,000 tonnes of grain into its NSW storage network, up from just 207,000t a week earlier, taking total harvest receivals to about 1.5 million tonnes.
Temperatures are forecast to rise into the mid to high 30 degrees Celcius for much of this week, with low humidity levels which will bring harvest in more quickly.
Harvest is starting to be wrapped up north of Moree, while the Central West and the south west are in full swing.
Farmers are windrowing canola in the Wagga, Young, Cootamundra areas and will be harvesting by the end of the week with wheat still 10 days away from starting.
Scorching temperatures in the first week of October have taken a heavy toll on crops, both in terms of yield and quality.
There is a lot of high screenings barley and wheat coming off in the north and Central West of the state, as a direct result of the abrupt finish to the season.
The high screenings comes as a double-whammy for many growers who have suffered dearly from a second failed crop only to be confronted by sizable quality discounts.
Wheat with reasonable protein and high screenings is finding plenty of interest from container exporters and some flour millers.
High Protein Screenings (HPS) 11.5 protein wheat is $285 a tonne Port Kembla, reflecting a modest $6/t discount to Australian Premium White (APW).
However, high screenings barley is incurring a significantly heavier penalty with F2 feed barley attracting a $16/t discount to the current $238/t Port Kembla price.
Global grain market inputs are showing no sign of strengthening, despite the disappointing harvest across Victoria and other parts of Australia.
Last week benchmark US and European wheat futures tumbled by about five per cent.
Markets moved sharply lower after the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) closed watched monthly supply and demand estimates report provided more bearish information.
Local grain prices were softer last week as a result of the decline in world prices.
APW into Newcastle fell by $10/t to $290/t Newcastle and Port Kembla.
Feed barley into Port Kembla was down by $7/t to $238/t.
The USDA cut its forecast of US wheat exports to 21.8 million tonnes amid the strong global export competition, which would be the smallest US wheat exports recorded in 44 years if it is realised.
Global wheat production was left close to unchanged at 733 million tonnes, which would be the third consecutive record large harvest, if achieved.
