GrainCorp approval
GRAINCORP has secured planning permission for its $8.1 million upgrade of its Cunningar site, near Harden in the South West Slopes region of NSW.
The upgrade will feature a partnership with the Federal Government under the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) and is expected to commence in February.
The project will see an 80pc improvement in rail train loading times and achieve a 24 hour turnaround time to port.
Critical, GrainCorp operations manager Nigel Lotz said there would be $10 a tonne efficiency gain made that would be delivered back to growers.
Not guilty plea
BRENTON Strauss, who headed up River City Grain and Sapphire Grain, grain buying businesses that failed to pay growers for grain, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of breaching director’s duties brought against him by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
He appeared in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court earlier in the month.
The matter has now been set for a pre-trial meeting on March 7.
Mice concerns
WITH the large volumes of grain about many growers are storing grain on-farm.
Grain hygiene experts are urging farmers storing grain to make sure bunkers are strategically located to minimise the risk of vermin contamination.
This includes situating the bunkers away from stubbles to avoid potential mouse infestations.
Pest monitors say there is a high likelihood of exploding mice numbers due to the large amount of grain available in paddocks, especially in areas where wind has blown grain out onto the ground.
Grain storage specialist Peter Botta, says growers need to give serious consideration to where they locate bunkers, how they are set up and their ongoing management.
“We can see that there is potential for a problem with mice – so meticulous attention needs to be given to bunker storages,” he said.
Other general requirements for successful bunker storage include a well-prepared and compacted pad that is sloped to drain water away from the site.