Hustle and bustle at harvest time

Harvest has created a hive of activity across the district and for the first time in three years grain trucks are full and back on the road queuing up at various delivery complexes.

There’s been an influx of workers too with plenty of jobs on offer from the paddock to the silos.

“Everyone is pretty happy to be doing something – it’s good, it’s really good and hopefully it’ll all be worthwhile,” said header contractor Ken Kelaher who lives in Willow Tree but has been harvesting in the Burren Junction area for more than a decade.

“Yes, it’s probably been three years since we’ve been back up here, we’ve got a team of three header drivers and a truck driver.

“We’ve done barley, various types of wheat and chickpeas.

“The yields are good considering the weather – the hail has made a difference obviously, but other than that it’s pretty good.

“We’re normally based down near Willow Tree and Quirindi and will go back home after this to do the harvest there.”

Mr Kelaher said the buzz harvest time has sparked in the towns they’ve travelled through is brilliant.

“Everyone would be reliant on this harvest, all the small businesses, basically any business in the area.

“It’s just a big domino effect and hopefully it will flow back into town.”

Mr Kelaher said the quantity of grain is huge and he understands the silos have been very busy.

Towns such as Burren Junction, which could normally be described as a little sleepy, have been bustling with deliveries.

“We’ve been lucky because most of our stuff has been on farm but I’ve seen a few photos where people have been sitting at the silos all day waiting to get rid of one load and I don’t think that would be really exciting,” he said.

Mr Kelaher acknowledged that harvest contracting involves long days and hard work but said he enjoyed working in agriculture and alongside his committed team.

“It’s not a 9-to-5 job but we’ve been looked after and had some very nice dinners too.”