Grain future in balance

The Bennetts operate a traditional mixed-farm on their property, “Ukebung”, Merrygoen near Mendooran, and are pictured with their children Emma (with gelding Bugs) and Sam.

The Bennetts normally truck grain to Mendooran, less than 15 kilometres away, but will now have to send it more than 80km to Gilgandra.

Mr Bennetts found out about the closures by word-of-mouth as the Mendooran community rallied together to organise a meeting last month.

“A GrainCorp representative attended, but they pretty much came in and told us it was closing and there was nothing we could do about it,” he said.

GrainCorp has since confirmed grower groups have been the most active in making offers to take over some of its closed silos as private storages.

Existing grain companies have also registered interest in certain areas and GrainCorp is likely to finish assessing the offers and make decisions by the end of the month.

The Bennetts planted 121 hectares of wheat, which normally yields about 200 tonnes, plus 50ha barley, 30ha lupins and 162ha oats, which they keep to feed sheep and cattle.

While they were only small-scale croppers compared to farms further west, Mr Bennetts said it now appeared unviable to grow any grain.

“Last year we used our on-farm storage for wheat but we were hoping to fill all our silos with oats this year,” he said.

With this year promising to deliver better yield, Mr Bennetts said there would be no spare storage at “Ukebung” for wheat.

The Neilrex silo, 15km north of the property, has also been shut to canola deliveries, adding to grower frustrations.

“Canola will probably have to be taken straight to Newcastle,” Mr Bennetts said.

“But if there are any problems with moisture what do you do? Just turn around and bring it straight home?

“The availability of trucks will also be an issue – we won’t have trucks at our fingertips.

“We’ll have to pay more for total crop inputs, more for fuel, more each hour the truck waits to unload, more per hour when the header is in the paddock waiting on the truck – and in the mean time the return we get is less per tonne.”

Mr Bennetts said the future of grain growing at “Ukebung” hung in the balance.

“If we knew what we know now, I’d have never even put in a wheat crop.”