WA’s valuable grains industry has delivered a 27.352 million-tonne harvest, the largest on record.

The record harvest builds on the successive gains in recent years, making the grains industry the largest contributor to the state’s agriculture sector and a valuable export earner.

“The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has played a key role in this achievement, working alongside growers and industry partners to produce more grain from less rain in a drying climate,” a government spokesperson said.

DPIRD research collaborations have advanced soils, agronomy, crop genetics, and farming systems research and development to lift yield potential and overcome challenges to grain quality.

Crop production in WA has transformed over the past three decades, with the adoption of minimum tillage, soil amelioration practices, crop diversification, and variable rate technology contributing to improvements in water and nutrient use efficiency.

Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the grains industry’s achievement was remarkable, and demonstrated how sustained innovation, technology, and productivity-focused research had equipped growers to improve crop performance and capitalise on favourable seasons at scale.

“The enduring collaboration between DPIRD, growers, and industry has lifted yields to levels that could not have been imagined 30 years ago.

“The Cook government continues to build on this legacy, supporting next-generation R&D that keeps WA’s grains industry internationally competitive.”