From my understanding all the hay  exports dry up once the US and Canadian new season crop hits the export market.

Is that just from the Wimmera?

Balco at Bowmans in SA exports year round.

Sorry Bing , I should have worded my last post differently.
Once the US and Canadian new crop becomes available the less demand for older season crop from Australia. As with everything, the price plays a part.

Thanks for the confirmation BS , I owe you chicken Parma with the special Natimuk toppings .

I’m guessing the yard is full of loaded containers ready to go?

By truck of course

Well the site is running in a fairly rough sort of fashion.

bevans if I were you, pull the spark plugs out give em a good hit with the wire brush and make sure ya push the plug leads back on the right plugs. Get a bit of fine emery paper give the points a little buff, then stick the timein' tight on advance it a bit and I reckon she'll run a lot better. By the way if it's still missin' on number 5 could be a burnt out valve.

Yes Dick all for road transport which is a bit bazaar as you could hit a golf ball with a 7 iron to the Dooen freight hub, they shifted out there a few years ago.

https://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/4821099/johnson-asahi-to-move-to-wimmera-intermodel-freight-terminal/

The info I have recieved is that if and when bevans and DangerousDan007 open their West Ballarat intermodal, Johnson's will be one of the main people to be taking advantage of it, unsure of the reasons they don't do business with  Dooen.

BigShunter.

the parma sounds very tempting Dick, might take ya up on that when all of this is over. i guess Bill is doing things a bit tough in the pub department under these conditions.

Well the site is running in a fairly rough sort of fashion.

bevans if I were you, pull the spark plugs out give em a good hit with the wire brush and make sure ya push the plug leads back on the right plugs. Get a bit of fine emery paper give the points a little buff, then stick the timein' tight on advance it a bit and I reckon she'll run a lot better. By the way if it's still missin' on number 5 could be a burnt out valve.

BigShunter.

Apologies in advance, I can't seem to reply in the usual manner due to problems with the 90 degree V Twin Guzzi (as opposed to the L Twin Duke-adi) running on 1 and then spluttering to a stop on the side of the road every couple of Ks where I need to adjust the shaft drive.

Keep on Truckin' Shunter. Or should that be Trainin'?

Viterra flexing it's muscle and showing how to shift grain.

Viterra hits major milestone.

VITERRA's Port Lincoln terminal has clocked up a major milestone for this season, with 1 million tonnes of grain loaded onto vessels bound for the east coast domestic and international markets since November.

Of interest, east coast domestic market.

"Our Port Lincoln terminal can load around 75,000t onto a vessel in three days - with loading rates of up to 3000t per hour. This provides significant value to the industry," Mr Murray said.

Portland not in the race !

To service interstate demand, Viterra also last month loaded two 100-wagon trains for the first time - with wagons for each train split across three different sites to load simultaneously to fill them quickly and efficiently.

"These trains were effectively double the size of a typical rail movement," Mr Murray said.

Hello Victoria, how are our grain trains looking, competitive... hmm

Link Stock Journal 11th April; https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/6719262/viterra-hits-major-milestone/?cs=4862

BigShunter.

Viterra flexing it's muscle and showing how to shift grain.

Viterra hits major milestone.

VITERRA's Port Lincoln terminal has clocked up a major milestone for this season, with 1 million tonnes of grain loaded onto vessels bound for the east coast domestic and international markets since November.

Of interest, east coast domestic market.

"Our Port Lincoln terminal can load around 75,000t onto a vessel in three days - with loading rates of up to 3000t per hour. This provides significant value to the industry," Mr Murray said.

Portland not in the race !

To service interstate demand, Viterra also last month loaded two 100-wagon trains for the first time - with wagons for each train split across three different sites to load simultaneously to fill them quickly and efficiently.

"These trains were effectively double the size of a typical rail movement," Mr Murray said.

Hello Victoria, how are our grain trains looking, competitive... hmm

Link Stock Journal 11th April; https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/6719262/viterra-hits-major-milestone/?cs=4862

BigShunter.

That's a lot of trucks for Port Lincoln...

The cost to the environment is a lot higher than that on rail.  But who do you blame?  Vittera or GWa for their mismanagemnt?

I actually blame the South Australian Government.

SSR running as 9199 to Sea Lake this evening. Sea Lake has a had a fair few visits this year.

Viterra flexing it's muscle and showing how to shift grain.

Viterra hits major milestone.

VITERRA's Port Lincoln terminal has clocked up a major milestone for this season, with 1 million tonnes of grain loaded onto vessels bound for the east coast domestic and international markets since November.

Of interest, east coast domestic market.

"Our Port Lincoln terminal can load around 75,000t onto a vessel in three days - with loading rates of up to 3000t per hour. This provides significant value to the industry," Mr Murray said.

Portland not in the race !

To service interstate demand, Viterra also last month loaded two 100-wagon trains for the first time - with wagons for each train split across three different sites to load simultaneously to fill them quickly and efficiently.

"These trains were effectively double the size of a typical rail movement," Mr Murray said.

Hello Victoria, how are our grain trains looking, competitive... hmm

Link Stock Journal 11th April; https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/6719262/viterra-hits-major-milestone/?cs=4862

BigShunter.

They were certainly not the first 100 wagon trains loaded at Viterra sites as two were loaded back in September last year.

It is only the SSR trains that load to 100 wagons, and some might argue they're more trouble than they're worth?

All the other trains serving Viterra sites in SA operated by PN, Qube, Aurizon and GWA are 40-50 wagons, so I don't think the Vics have much to worry about

SSR's 4SK1 that arrived in western Vic early this morning is 72 wagons

PN back running BG grainys. Loaded at Boort today allegedly as 9149/50

PN back running BG grainys. Loaded at Boort today allegedly as 9149/50

Which locos?

PN back running BG grainys. Loaded at Boort today allegedly as 9149/50

Which locos?

BL29+G543

Ran via Gheringhap and north to Ballarat.

QUBE loading at Rainbow today - 8044/44202/8037

S302 is dead.  T385/T386 have been put onto the SSR BG grainy for the moment.

First train to load on the line since reactivation?

First train to load on the line since reactivation?

abother one is due at Jeparit on Saturday as well, so I have heard.

S302 is dead.  T385/T386 have been put onto the SSR BG grainy for the moment.

Virus?

S302 is dead.  T385/T386 have been put onto the SSR BG grainy for the moment.

Virus?

S302 failed on its way to Nullawil last week.  T385/T386 came to the rescue.  S317-S312 are heading up the SSR Grainy which is loading North of Seymour today.

Many Vic Farmers are flat out sowing what could potentially be big crops this winter....

SSR 4SK1 with SSR101+BRM002+G513+SSR102 headed out to Western Victoria overnight with 66 wagons.  Empty Grain.

S302 is dead.  T385/T386 have been put onto the SSR BG grainy for the moment.

Virus?

S302 failed on its way to Nullawil last week.  T385/T386 came to the rescue.  S317-S312 are heading up the SSR Grainy which is loading North of Seymour today.

Many Vic Farmers are flat out sowing what could potentially be big crops this winter....

I've read the outlook for rain out to August and it look promising across most growing regions.

I read the summer forecast for the last 5 years - still waiting for the worse summer ever to arrive.

Soaking rain across the Wimmera, in particular North Wimmera and Southern Mallee. No links to the Wimmera MailTimes not sure if they've all been sacked, so I will just have to wing it myself.

Well Anzac Day has come and gone, as I've said in a previous post if it hasn't rained by now farmers usually starting to look to the skies. Certainly not the case this year for the cropping/farming country of Western Victoria.

I even managed to drag me lazy carcass out of the sack for the dawn vigil at the end of the drive as did a few of the neighbors, which was a nice experience, except the Bird across the road Scowling at me the whole time. Mid afternoon saw nice rain start which moved right across Victoria with North of the Western Highway scooping the great tallies of rain.

Hopetoun, Birchip, Donald and further North across to Bendigo saw totals of 30 - 40ml and more with 20 - 30 South and Western Vic 10ish so missing out a bit.

If you could dial up a rainfall start to the cropping / farming season you couldn't ask for better and word has it the combines / air seeders will be in action as of now. If Donald who lives at Donald, which is duck country and hopefully will be this winter has any info ?

http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/rain/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=latest&step=0&map=totals&period=week&area=vc

Over and out.

BigShunter.

BS,
Tipped out 40 mm yesterday.   Had 2 days of 25 mm each earlier in the month.   Farmers have got to be happy with that.  Due to restrictions ATM, haven't been out & about much to hear their comments yet.

More to come this week too as per the forecast.

The cropping program from S.A. Vic to NSW is off to a flying start and with another load of rain to come over the next few days, there will be a lot of people rubbing their hands together.

Sowing underway as farmers hopeful for strong season ahead.

Farmers across southern Australia have begun sowing with expectations yield returns could be far greater this season given the wet start to 2020.

StockandLand show farmers are well underway to planting a variety of crops across Victoria, Southern NSW and eastern SA.

https://www.stockandland.com.au/story/6729379/photos-sowing-underway-as-farmers-hopeful-for-strong-season-ahead/#slide=0

Chances of good winter rain continue to firm as climate drivers fall into line.

AUSTRALIA has enjoyed its wettest first four months of the year since 2016 and the good news is not over.

Further out there is the likelihood of above average winter rain fairly strong for most parts of Australia's agricultural belt.

Croppers across south-eastern Australia had a perfect present on the traditional opening of the planting season on Anzac Day with up to 40mm falling in parts of the northern Wimmera and southern Mallee in Victoria and widespread tallies of 15-25mm across SA, Victoria and Southern NSW.

https://www.theland.com.au/story/6736923/chances-of-good-winter-rain-continue-to-firm/?cs=4937

https://www.theland.com.au/story/6736165/did-someone-order-a-drink-rain-on-way-for-grain-belt/

The rain is not only great news for the farming communities but all the creeks and river systems for our water storage's will be getting primed up ready to start flowing and not to forget the wild life.

BigShunter.