JANUARY GRAIN GRABS

As we move into 2026, the picture across the grains industry is mixed, and that’s probably the best word to describe farming in Australia at any time.

In many regions, growers have just wrapped up harvest and can look back with a real sense of pride. Across Western Australia in particular, growers have delivered what is shaping up as the best harvest on record for the state. That’s an outstanding result and a credit to the skill, investment and persistence of WA farm businesses.

At the same time, a crop of that size brings its own challenges. The pressure on freight, storage and port logistics is real, and we’re seeing just how critical a reliable and efficient transport system is to getting grain to market. Big production years should be an opportunity, not a bottleneck, and it’s a timely reminder that infrastructure has to keep pace with what growers are capable of producing.

Further north, many summer crop growers are now heading into their own harvest, keeping the momentum going across sorghum and other systems.

But not everyone is starting the year on the front foot.

Serious fires in Victoria and flooding across parts of Queensland have hit farming families and regional communities hard. South Australian farmers managed, in most regions, an average to slightly above average crop. This was a welcome result after several tough, dry years, but it is not the end of the effects of the drought by any means.

For those dealing with damage or loss, recovery can feel long and uncertain. I want to acknowledge the practical, on-the-ground support provided by our State Farming Organisation Members including AgForce HERE and the Victorian Farmers' Federation HERE, who have been working closely with affected growers and communities. That kind of local leadership and advocacy really matters when people need help most. Grain Producers SA HERE has been instrumental in advocating for growers by bringing light to the issues on the ground and connecting growers with support.

This work speaks to what makes our industry strong, we back each other. I see every day that the success of the grains sector isn’t just measured in tonnes, it’s measured in the resilience, professionalism and community spirit of growers right across the country.

As 2026 progresses, Grain Producers Australia will keep pushing for practical policy, strong biosecurity, fair regulation and the infrastructure and systems growers need to stay competitive and profitable. Here’s to a safer, steadier season ahead and to supporting each other along the way.

Barry Large GPA Chair