Kwinana East Zone manager Allan Walker said with a week or fine weather, daily receivals had picked up significantly and were now about 80,000 tonnes per day for the zone.

“By December 3, we had received just over a million tonnes which is 45 per cent of the zone’s 2.7 million tone estimate,” he said.

“By Thursday, December 10 we expect to have received more than 1.4 million or more than 60 per cent.

“We’re trying to get as much grain in the bins as possible while the weather is fine, so all sites are now open for deliveries and we’ve extended our operating hours with most primary sites open on weekends.

“The wet start to the season has had a slight impact on quality, which is why we have introduced AGP1 services at most primary sites in the zone.”

Merredin farmer John Nicoletti said many farmers were disappointed with harvest outcomes so far.

“I’m disappointed with the prices of grain, and disappointed with some of the quality, in terms of high screenings and low hectoliter weight,” he said.

“The crops look good but the yields aren’t there. We’re 30 per cent down on the original estimated yields.”

Mr Nicoletti also farms at Esperance and said staining had also impacted on quality in that region.

“I’m not trying to be negative because I love farming and I want to be around forever,” he said.

“But this season is going to be pretty disappointing for the back pocket of Western Australia, and farmers particularly, especially if they’ve got some commodities owing, so hopefully the banks are going to be understanding.

“Apart from that I just hope the weather stays fine and the majority of harvest should be over by Christmas.”

The Kwinana East Zone estimate this harvest is about 300,000 tonnes down on last year’s receivals for the zone.