Miller Magazine Issue: 123 March 2020

47 NEWS MILLER / MARCH 2020 Viterra adapts to provide more efficient supply chain Paraguay says 2019/20 soy crop could exceed 10 million tonnes Viterra, Australia's bulk-handling company, is making changes to its site footprint ahead of the 2020/21 harvest as the company continues its focus on best meeting the ne- eds of its grower and buyer custo- mers and ensuring South Australian grain is competitive in internatio- nal and domestic markets. Viterra Operations Manager Michael Hill says the company is responding to the changing needs and delivery patterns of growers and adapting to the evolving environment for South Australia’s grain industry. “We are focused on providing customers with the most efficient, cost effective and sustainable supply chain and delivering value through the services we provide,” Mic- hael says. “Last year, we provided nearly $10 million in additional value directly to growers through dynamic bin- ning, and reduced freight rates, storage and handling fees and warehousing fees. “We intend to open 55 sites for the coming harvest. These sites have previously taken 97 per cent of total receivals and have the capacity to manage all grower deliveries. “There are 12 sites that will not open this year and will not play a fu- ture role in our network. These are difficult decisions and whe- re this has occurred we are ad- vising growers of delivery op- tions for the 2020/21 harvest. Viterra will have 9.8 milli- on tonnes of storage capacity available and will continue to provide segregations for all the major crops grown in South Australia. Michael says Viterra is taking a long- term approach to ensure it can continue to provide a high level of service to growers and attract buyers to purchase South Australian grain. “We have invested around $200 million at our sites in the last five years. We will continue to invest in our people, infrastructure and services to provide the greatest value to our grower and buyer customers,” Michael says. Soy production in Paraguay could exceed 10 million tons in the current 2019/2020 season, which would mark an important recovery from the previous drought-hit crop, an agriculture ministry official said. Paraguay, the world’s No. 4 exporter of the oilseed, has already harvested about half of the 3.5 million hectares (8.7 million acres) that had been planted in October and November, Deputy Minister Mario Leon told Reuters. Despite a slow start to the current season, caused by lack of moisture, rains have normalized and the crop is progres- sing with good results, he said. Average yields are above 5,000 kg (11,020 pounds) per hectare in the highest-producing areas of the country, he said, while the national average was 2,700 kg (5,950 pounds) per hectare. “So the harvest is progressing well and there are indicati- ons that it could exceed 10 million tonnes,” Leon said. The previous season produced only 8.5 million tonnes of soy.