Australia: Western Australia's Grain Licensing Authority approves barley licences

Grain Licensing Authority (GLA) Chairman Wayne Obst today announced the Authority had granted two special export licences for the 2007/08 season, according to SeedQuest, October 16.

Mr Obst said one was for 70,000 tonnes of malting barley to Asia and the second for 66,000 tonnes of feed barley to the Middle East.

”Given the quality of the applications and the greater level of certainty in production for this season, the GLA is confident that this decision will not adversely impact on the main export licence holder and be of benefit to WA growers and the industry,” he said.

The total amount of barley granted in special export licences for the 2007/08 season is now 806,000 tonnes, comprising of 180,000 tonnes of malting barley and 626,000 tonnes of feed barley.

Based on the Department of Agriculture and Food’s October barley production estimate of approximately 1.8 million tonnes for this season, the licences will account for 44 per cent of the Western Australia crop.

17 October, 2007