Development of Facilities | Types of Storage
Classification | Segregation | Grain Hygiene
Quality Assurance | Safe Storage | Grain Transfer
Stock Control
Development of Facilities
Grain storage and handling in Australia is undertaken primarily by five Bulk Handling Companies (BHCs), including AWB GrainFlow. This infrastructure is commonly referred to as the Bulk Handling system.
On farm storage and private commercial storage is also available and is becoming increasingly important in the management of grain storage and marketing.
Each BHC has a network of country receival facilities connected by road and or rail transport links to several seaboard export terminals. In some cases, the network includes a number of regional or central subterminals which provide greater flexibility to the system. In particular, they permit the accumulation of larger volumes of grains for more efficient transport and provide overflow capacity to other local silos, usually having faster receival and outloading capacities.
Australia has worked hard to develop a world-wide reputation as a reliable and timely supplier of sound, clean grain of low moisture content, free of insect infestation and with low or zero chemical and insecticide residues. That reputation can be largely attributed to the close working relationship achieved between marketing and the central storage and handling companies.
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Types of Storage
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The types of storage facilities provided by the BHCs vary within and between states. This reflects regional differences in the types and quantities of grain produced, as well as changes in storage construction policy and technology over time. There are four basic storage types in common use, although there are substantial variations within these types.
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The horizontal shed is commonly a square or rectangular building with flat floor, steel or reinforced concrete walls up to 6 metres high and a corrugated steel roof. Capacity may range from 10,000 to 40,000 tonnes, although at some export terminals they may be as large as 300,000 tonnes.
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The squat, circular storage bin with a height to diameter ratio of about two to one, constructed of steel or reinforced concrete and fitted with radical reclaim conveyors to facilitate mechanical clearance of their flat floors. These squat bin storages typically have a capacity of 5,000 to 15,000 tonnes.
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Vertical storages consisting of blocks of individual cells with a height to diameter ratio in excess of three to one, usually constructed of reinforced concrete or steel. The cell base may be flat, in which case grain must be cleared manually once gravity flow has ceased, or the base may be a self emptying one where high output capacity requirements has justified the additional expense. The capacity of individual cells ranges from about 1,500 to 4,000 tonnes but the total capacity depends on the number of cells in the complex.
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Temporary bunker storages with steel, earth or concrete walls are widely used as overflow storages in years of high production. Typically they have capacity ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 tonnes.
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The capital and operating expenses of the various types of storage tend to be inversely related, reflecting their relative complexity and sophistication. This is one of the factors which determines the choice of storage type for a particular situation. In recent years, another important factor has been the ability to seal storages to airtight standards to enable the use of fumigants and controlled atmospheres. Potential for sealing can be affected by both the type of storage and the material used in its construction. In sealed storages the use of insecticides can be avoided.
The storage and handling system in each state must be capable of accepting an average crop quantity within the relatively short harvest period of some six to eight weeks.
On-farm storage provides some buffer capacity in the delivery system but the nature of grower payment arrangements particularly for wheat provides substantial incentive to deliver grain as soon as possible to the central storage system.
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Classification
There are two main objectives of classification. The first is to match receivals with market requirements to maximise market opportunities and returns to growers. The second is to ensure that payments to growers are made on the basis of the quality and condition of the grain delivered.
To ensure that the Receival Standards for wheat achieve these objectives, AWB reviews these Standards post harvest each year in consultation with the respective BHCs, grower groups and relevant industry participants.
The BHCs and other Receival Agents are responsible for the correct classification of grain on receival, consistent with the predetermined Standards agreed to by industry.
During harvest every load of wheat tendered for delivery to AWB is sampled and analysed on site for each of the quality parameters specified in the AWB Wheat Receival Standards, including:
i) Protein
ii) Moisture
iii) Test Weight
iv) Screenings
v) Unmillable Material
vi) Grain Defects
vii) Contaminants
In Australia the most accurate equipment available is used to analyse and segregate grain. Objective testing is increasingly being used to capture and segregate grain with specific quality attributes, which AWB is able to sell to certain premium paying markets.
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Segregation
The BHC’s and other Receival Agents are responsible for segregating the various grades of grain on receival and for maintaining the integrity of each stack throughout its storage period. Grain is also monitored as it is being outturned to either domestic or export customers.
The main grades of wheat segregated are Australian Prime Hard (APH), Australian Hard (AH), Australian Premium White (APW), Australian Standard White (ASW), Noodle wheat (ASWN), Soft wheat (ASF1), Durum (ADR), Australian General Purpose (AGP) and Feed wheat (FEED).
Within each of the above grades further segregations exist based on geographical and quality differentiation. In a given season there may be over 20 different segregations of wheat across Australia. The ability to accurately segregate grain greatly assists in marketing Australia’s crop and being able to deliver grain that will meet each customer’s specific requirements. This acts to maintain Australia’s reputation as a supplier of high quality wheat.
Grain Hygiene
Australia's Export Control Act specifies a 'nil tolerance' for live grain insects at the point of export. Grain is often stored for extended periods of time under environmental conditions that are highly favourable for insects to populate at a rapid rate. Monitoring programs and control measures such as the use of contact insecticides and fumigants are used to prevent insect infestations developing. The relatively dry condition that grain is received at harvest also assists in pest control and helps to prevent other problems such as fungal spoilage in storage.
The research and development of pest control strategies in Australia is coordinated through organisations such as the Stored Grain Research Laboratory (SGRL) who are funded by industry and government. These organisations are guided by and work in close liaison with marketing companies (principally AWB) and the BHC’s so that the research being conducted is relevant and beneficial to the industry as a whole.
While contact insecticides and fumigants have historically played a major role in grain hygiene, that role is being undermined by the ever-present problem of resistance in insect populations. However new strategies have been developed and research is continuing with the aim of prolonging the life of the current insecticides in use and developing new control measures such as inert atmospheres and aeration systems.
In recent years there has been increasing market sensitivity to the presence of pesticide residues in food for human consumption. Australian BHCs, and in particular Western Australia's Co-operative Bulk Handling (CBH), have pioneered developments in sealed and controlled storage technology for insect control via the use of non-residual fumigants. This is providing positive marketing opportunities for Australian grain.
Quality Assurance
The AWB quality assurance program is designed to capture the quality of Australia’s crop so that it can be effectively marketed and delivered to the specific requirements of each customer. Samples collected at the completion of harvest are tested for basic quality parameters, milling performance and end product suitability. The results from these analyses are presented in AWB’s Annual Crop Report.
The quality assurance program also ensures that BHCs and other Receival Agents are held accountable for the proper receival, storage and outturn of grain. Extensive sampling and testing is conducted both during and post harvest to confirm the integrity of segregations and to ensure that there is no deterioration of quality as a result of insect infestation, incorrect chemical treatment, unsound storage practices or admixture between grain types or grades.
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Safe Storage
The storage of grain from the point of receival until such time that it is outturned to a domestic or export customer is the responsibility of the BHCs and other Receival Agents. The Receival Standards reflect the requirements under which grain can be safely stored for an extended period of time. After the grain is received, regular quality inspections are carried out by the BHCs and other Receival Agents to confirm the integrity of segregations and to ensure that there is no deterioration of quality as a result of any unforeseen activity.
AWB assumes a supervisory role over the inspection of grain in storage to ensure that it is being maintained in a sound condition.
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Grain Transfer
Grain transfer must be managed from country silos to land based transport facilities, from land based transport to export terminals, and from export terminals to ships. BHCs provide the operational services to achieve these transfers and contribute to the integrated information network with transport and marketing authorities to manage these complex logistical functions.
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Stock Control
Stock control for the classification and segregation of many grains and grades within the central storage system, often held for extended periods of time, means that BHC stock control and recording systems must be comprehensive and accessible.
Precise and comprehensive stock information covering quantity, location, quality and accessibility are vital to the marketing and management activities of the marketing authorities.
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