Integrated management to ensure market access for Northern Australian grain

As broadacre cropping continues to expand across northern Australia, safe and effective grain storage is becoming increasingly important for maintaining reliable access to domestic and export markets. The region’s warm and humid climate creates ideal conditions for insect pests and moisture build-up, increasing the risk of grain quality losses during storage. CRCNA’s Situational analysis of broadacre cropping in Northern Australia identified significant knowledge gaps relating to stored grain pests, resistance profiles and effective management practices. These gaps represented a potential barrier to industry growth and investment. This industry-led project addressed these challenges by establishing the first northern Australia-specific baseline data on stored grain insect pests, pest movement and resistance to commonly used fumigants. The research evaluated practical pest management strategies suited to tropical storage conditions and provided growers with evidence-based recommendations to improve grain storage outcomes. The project also delivered extensive industry engagement through workshops, field activities and extension materials, helping growers and supply chain stakeholders adopt best-practice grain storage management. The findings have strengthened industry capability, improved understanding of storage risks and contributed to ongoing investment in grain storage research through CRCNA’s Cotton, Grains and Cattle Program. By improving storage integrity and reducing postharvest losses, the project has helped support the long-term profitability, resilience and competitiveness of northern Australia’s growing grains industry.   Read more Ground Cover: issue 176 May-June 2025 article ‘Storage the focus for Far North cropping‘ Northern Focus: March-April 2025 article ‘Grain storage challenges and solutions in northern Australia‘

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Grain storage extension – Far North

As grain production expands across far northern Australia, effective grain storage is becoming increasingly important to maintaining grain quality, improving market access and supporting profitable farming enterprises. The region’s tropical climate presents unique storage challenges, including high temperatures, humidity, mould risk and insect pests, requiring management approaches tailored to local conditions. This project strengthened the capacity of grain growers, advisers and industry stakeholders to implement best-practice grain storage management across the Far North. Building on an initial scoping study, the project identified the region’s specific grain storage challenges and opportunities and developed targeted extension resources to address them. Through a whole-of-industry approach, the project delivered practical information, training and support to improve grain storage decision-making and management. Activities focused on helping growers invest confidently in fit-for-purpose storage infrastructure, maintain grain quality during storage, manage storage pests effectively and maximise the value of grain through segregation, blending and market targeting. The project contributed to building industry knowledge and capability in grain storage management, supporting the long-term growth, profitability and resilience of northern Australia’s emerging grains sector.

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