With a bumper harvest in full swing, local farmers are experiencing significant delays at grain receival sites across the region.
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Breeza grain grower Andrew Pursehouse is concerned a lack of infrastructure is the issue.
Mr Pursehouse planted 4000 acres of winter crop, including chickpeas, bread and durum wheat, barley and faber beans, and stores large quantities in his own silo facilities.
“We cart to the Graincorp silos at Werris Creek but the trucks are delayed getting back which puts a stress on handling and we end up storing more on farm,” Mr Pursehouse said.
“That’s something that we often do, but the size of the crops in the district is huge this year and everything is bearing the burden of the lack of infrastructure at the public silos.
“Since Graincorp became a public company the capital expenditure that should’ve been used on the silos is now paid in shareholder returns.
“We are really seeing the brunt of that in a big year like this.”
Mr Pursehouse said growers in the district are experiencing “record yields”, despite “pretty poor” prices for cereals.
“Chickpea prices are record though, but faber beans are shocking.”
Mr Pursehouse has finished harvesting his wheat and barley, with chickpeas starting this week.
NSW Farmers has reported delays state-wide at grain receival sites and fears losses for farmers as the cost of carting grain increases.
Heatwave conditions are also reportedly causing delays across NSW as grain growers shut down in the middle of the day for safety reasons.