Morawa harvest zone records highest wheat production sales for 2022-23 financial year with more than 2.1Mt

The Shire of Morawa says it’s pleased to learn the area was among the biggest production zones for wheat in the nation in 2022-23.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released last week indicated the Morawa zone, which according to the ABS encompasses Morawa, Mingenew, and Perenjori among other local government areas, recorded the highest wheat production sold across the country at 2.1 million tonnes.

The Moora zone in the Wheatbelt was second with 1.6Mt, while the Northampton-Mullewa-Greenough zone had 1.5Mt to round out the top three.

Morawa shire president Karen Chappel said the region was proud of its strong performance.

“The benefit of a good year like that is the confidence that our landholders and our farmers have in that industry, it follows on for other businesses,” she said.

“That particular year was a good year, it was very welcomed and it proves we are a sound agricultural region.”

According to CBH Group, 2022-23 was the biggest harvest in its 91-year history. It was a record-breaking haul in the Geraldton zone as well, with 4Mt received.

The total harvest across all grains reached more than 26Mt.

Ms Chappel said having a strong year like in 2022-23 was rewarding for the growers.

“Farmers nurture their crops, they go out and they plant the seed, watch it and look after it,” she said.

“For them to have a successful crop is important to them, and people tend to forget that.

“It’s no different from sheep or cattle, it’s so rewarding for them. It’s a sense of satisfaction.”

The 2023-24 harvest dropped sharply in the Geraldton zone to 1.5Mt, while the forecast for 2024-25 is looking promising, at 3Mt.

The data from the ABS was the first under its new system of data collection, where new sources allow data to be published annually to help understand the biosecurity and climate change impacts, supply chain requirements, and provides data for bodies to make informed decisions.