WA’s major grain storage, handling and marketers the CBH Group received its first delivery last week – 30t of canola at the Northampton receival point.

CBH Geraldton zone manager Duncan Gray said the volume of grain coming into the system would remain minimal over the next two weeks but it would steadily increase.

More receival points were likely to soon open, including Yuna and Binnu which remained closed in 2007 due to the poor season in their area.

CBH operations general manager Colin Tutt said the start of the harvest followed a roller coaster season for West Australian growers.

In April, prospects were for a well above average harvest but the rain dried up in August with some people suggesting the harvest could be as low as 7.5mt.

CBH upgraded its forecast for the harvest by 1mt last week to 10mt-12mt.