CBH calls for growers to provide their hectares planted

While harvest is a few months away, CBH is already busily preparing for the upcoming crop. As part of these preparations, the annual call has gone out to growers to submit their hectares planted for the 2024/25 harvest. 

Growers who submit their hectares planted using Paddock Planner before 31 July 2024 go into the draw to win a $1,000 accommodation voucher and $500 towards a charity or club of their choice.

CBH Chief Operations Officer Mick Daw is reminding growers of the importance of submitting their hectares planted for harvest preparations and long-term network decisions.

“It is important that growers tell us what they have planted so we can plan accordingly and to enable the network to operate as efficiently as possible,” Mr Daw said.  

“The good news is growers can adjust their hectares at any time in Paddock Planner as the season progresses, and it’s helpful for us if they start letting us know early what they have planted.

“In previous years, grain deliveries at some sites were more than what had been submitted, which has the potential to result in storage shortfalls and impact services to growers at those sites."

CBH is now in its eighth year of using Paddock Planner and is seeing a continued increase in the up-take of the tool.  

Newdegate grower Rochell Walker has been using Paddock Planner since 2019 and has seen value in the program both on farm and for CBH.  

“We’ve been using Paddock Planner for a several years now and the process is really quick and simple,” Ms Walker said.

“You just enter the commodity, variety and start creating your paddocks. The preloaded data helps make the process even quicker.

“Paddock Planner is a simple tool for us to help CBH plan for our deliveries for the season. It really helps to inform segregation decisions based on our real information.” 

Mr Daw said hectares planted, submitted through Paddock Planner not only help CBH to plan for the coming harvest but also helped to make better informed long-term network investment decisions.

“Paddock Planner improves our decision-making and continues to play a key role in achieving our ‘Path to 2033’ strategy target of exporting a peak 3 million tonnes per month by 2033,” Mr Daw said.

“This information also provides a level of accuracy and validation that facilitates our long-term investment in storage.

“For example, Paddock Planner information played an important role in identifying the need for and providing CBH the confidence to build 95,000 tonnes of additional permanent storage at Munglinup in the Esperance Zone. This investment will cater for a growing crop size, broaden the site’s service offering for growers and enhance supply chain agility within the Esperance Zone.’

Growers who need help submitting their hectares planted can call the CBH Grower Service Centre on 1800 199 083 or their Area Manager.