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South Australian grain growers have delivered their first harvest loads weeks ahead of schedule, with the 2026/27 season promising a bumper yield of 11.59 million tonnes. The early start is attributed to ideal weather conditions and strong crop growth across the state.
Bunge's Jamie Davies and Mike Bulmer, and Jesse Chandler, with the first grain delivery of the season. Farmers on South Australia's west coast have delivered the first load of grain for the season.
Early Grain Harvest Begins in South Australia
Primary Industries and Regions SA estimates 11,591,000 tonnes of grain will be harvested in South Australia in 2026/27. The harvesters have started rolling in South Australia for one of the most eagerly anticipated crops in years. Jesse Chandler was the first to front up to the silos at Thevenard with a load of Commodus barley on September 24.
He farms with his brother Harlee, father Milton and mother Tracey at Charra, halfway between Penong and Ceduna on South Australia's west coast. Milton Chandler said it was the earliest they had ever harvested.
"I think it was 14 or 15 we reaped the Friday before the AFL grand final and delivered on the Monday and this year we reaped on the Thursday so we're a day in front," Mr Chandler said. "Earliest wheat we put in was on the 8th of April and I was nervous about that, but we've got quite a bit of heavy country and when it gets wet we've just got to go.
""Normally even in our good years we'll have a period during the growing season when the crop will have a bit of a moisture check but this year it's almost been textbook. " "I've been farming here since 1980, and this is the best it's ever looked. It's great, and it's fantastic that it's statewide so it's a real positive for everyone.
Wet Winter Rainfall Boosts Crop Forecasts
"Primary Industries and Regions SA's (PIRSA) crop and pasture report has revised up the state's crop yield forecast again. The September report found all regions of South Australia had average to above-average winter rainfall with August being the fourth wettest on record. Disease pressure has increased under the wet conditions with rusts, powdery mildew, net blotch, black leg and sclerotinia reported across several regions.
Overall PIRSA now believes the area sown this year was 4,234,000 hectares and estimates 11,591,000 tonnes will be harvested. Robin Schaefer's lentil crop has put on a lot of biomass thanks to early season rainfall.
"We did buy a little bit of diesel through seeding at $3.27; that hurt a little bit, that was a bit of a wake-up call," Mr Chandler said. "Even though the prices aren't great hopefully we can that with some big yields. "Logistically it's going to be difficult to deal with it , but what a great problem. "Records show grain has been received as early as September 19 in the past.
Bunge Prepares for Earlier Harvest
Bunge director of industrial management Gavin Cavanagh said the bulk grain handler had been planning for harvest to be two to three weeks earlier than normal.
"We are expecting that we will receive more than we normally would in October given the good start the farmers had and the early plant on the back of those good opening rains,"Bunge does a big recruitment drive each year for harvest, putting on an extra 1,500 jobs each year, including overseas workers. "It hasn't impacted us directly; the majority of travellers we recruit are already in the country.
"From our point of view, we're confident that we've got the right amount of people in the right locations to support our farmers in their delivery pattern. "With warm, dry weather in SA in recent weeks, the recent storms that delivered about 15 to 40 millimetres of rain across the state were very welcome.
Loxton Growers Welcome Late Rainfall
Loxton grain grower Robin Schaefer said he thought he was going to get only a couple of millimetres but ended up tipping 17mm out of the gauge on Friday, October 2.
"It was a lovely surprise," Mr Schaefer said. "Some of our very early barley is pretty close to going now so that won't benefit, but the majority, I'd say at least two thirds or more of our crop would still benefit.
""The lentils up here, the biomass is amazing, hopefully that will translate into grain but there's certainly lots of pods on them" "It does vary a little bit from farm to farm with a number of drought years in a row and the price of fertiliser people couldn't put as much as they would have liked in a year like this to take advantage of it but we're thankful for what we've got. "It's just wonderful compared to a drought and I think there will be some very tidy yields around right through the Mallee.
"Key stories of the day for Australian primary producers, delivered each weekday afternoon.
{ Keyword: Grain Harvest} { Keyword: South Australia} { Keyword: Bunge} { Keyword: Crop Yield} { Keyword: PIRSA}
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