Australia: ABB Grain to help Junee bushfire victims

Key Australian agribusiness, ABB Grain Ltd announced on January 13 that it will aid victims of recent bushfires in Junee by setting up a grain donation scheme.

ABB is working with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Farmers’ Association to enable donations to reach bushfire affected growers.

The decision comes almost a year to the day after bushfires swept through Eyre Peninsula in South Australia killing nine people and causing extensive stock and property losses. After those fires, ABB worked with the South Australian Farmers’ Federation to establish a relief fund to aid SA farmers.

ABB managing director, Michael Iwaniw, said the company felt considerable empathy for growers who had experienced great losses in the Junee fires.

Grain silos owned by Australian Bulk Alliance (50% owned by ABB) and GrainCorp, within the Port Kembla and Melbourne zones, would be used as gathering points. Donated grain would then be stock swapped with owners of grain in the Junee area, with ABB paying for any freight differentials.

“Grain donations from outside the above areas will be accepted but it must be in minimum lots of 5 tonnes so as to enable swaps to be arranged later,” Mr Iwaniw said.

“Grain yet to be delivered to silos can be donated by growers to the victims, or they can opt to transfer ownership of some of their grain already delivered. Only wheat and barley, however, will be accepted.”

Mr Iwaniw said ABA had agreed to waive receival fees for grain delivered or transferred to the bushfire appeal. GrainCorp will charge discounted handling fees.

He said many growers were shortly due to receive payments for their cash sales of barley, or payments as part of their barley pool distributions in March or April. At a grower’s request, ABB could divert part of these scheduled payments to the bushfire relief effort.

“The relief effort will use the grain and money to help victims of the Junee bushfires and will be distributed on the basis of need as determined by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSWFA,” Mr Iwaniw said.

“Any grain not required for stock feeding will be sold by the NSWFA for cash and that revenue will be used to continue the work of the relief effort.”

Growers have until February 28 to make their donations or grain transfers to the relief fund.

Donations of grain or pool distributions will not, at this stage, be tax deductible. However, if this situation changes and donations are determined to be tax deductible, receipts will be written retrospectively.

Growers wanting to donate part of their unpaid grain sales proceeds – whether the sale has been for cash or to the ABB pool – can ring the ABB Grain Marketing Help Line on 1800 018 205, and provide details of their NGR payee number.

Growers wishing to donate grain from warehouse can do so using the ezigrain web site, www.ezigrain.com.au. When making the transfer online select Junee Appeal as the owner in the 'Transfer To' box. All other steps are completed as normal.

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