Grainforce expands storage capacity to cope with bumper summer crop

Managing director Derek Larnach said the grain freight and logistics business that started as a one-man operation 30 years ago was looking forward to welcoming trucks laden with grain as the harvest moves into top gear.

After a series of slow years during the three-year drought that gripped the region, Mr Larnach said Grainforce had increased its storage capacity by 1800 tonnes this year to cope with the bumper season.

"The drought hit western NSW hard so it's outstanding to see that farmers are expecting a big year," Mr Larnach said.

"And we're going to be here to meet the demand as we've installed six new silos to store grain before they're sent by rail to ports for export.

"When you include what we can store in the main storage facility here, it brings our total capacity to be able to manage 20,000 tonnes of grain on-site."

Bathurst MP Paul Toole said that despite the challenges small businesses are facing with COVID-19, it was refreshing to see one local operation expanding and growing their business.

"Grainforce is a respected Bathurst business that has reinvested in our city time and time again," Mr Toole said.

"Ahead of a bumper crop, they have installed new storage areas at their rail siding site in Kelso.

"Using regional contractors for the product and installation, they are supporting local jobs and stimulating the Bathurst economy.

"This is an example of a local business success story that has boosted employment in our community and exemplifies vision and commitment to investing in regional NSW."

The Grainforce expansion comes as new figures from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) forecast a record winter crop across NSW.

According to ABARES, the national winter crop production is forecast to increase by 76 per cent in 2020-21 to 51.5 million tonnes, second only to the record high of 56.7 million tonnes in 2016-17.

"Production is expected to be a record high in NSW and the second highest on record in Victoria," ABARES states in its report.

ABARES forecasts the NSW wheat crop to a record high 12.2 million tonnes in 2020-21 with barley also a record at three million tonnes.

Canola production across the state is forecast to be around 1.1 million tonnes in 2020-21.

The average yield is forecast to be a record high at 1.95 tonnes per hectare, 47 per cent above the 10-year average to 2019-20.