HARVEST across the Loddon was expected to be wrapped up by Christmas, Boort Grain Co-op manager Jon Bucknall said on Tuesday,
Mr Bucknall said only a few small pockets, no more than five per cent of the region’s crops, would be left to harvest by late next week.
He said the region’s major receival site had received 190,000 tonnes of grain by Monday.
“We will easily get to 200,000 tonnes ... how much more we don’t know yet,” Mr Bucknall said.
Last year, Boort Grain Co-op received 230,000 tonnes during harvest.
A steady stream of deliveries of canola, wheat and barley saw four days last week when trucks carted in more than 10,000 tonnes daily.
“We’ll be more than 95 per cent done by Christmas. The harvest started about two weeks earlier this season and everything was running well until the rain hit in late November,” he said.
“Then there was real stop-start but the last 10 days has seen a reasonable run.
Mr Bucknall said September predictions had been for an average harvest and while rains had downgraded some wheat quality. there remained good pockets.
“The season’s quality has certainly fallen into two parts - pre and post-rain when before November milling wheats and malt barley were very good,” he said.
“There has been a downgrading of a lot of wheat to standard feed wheat level and while prices initially dropped about $40, they have recovered at least $30 in last week or so.
“Prices have been holding pretty well throughout the harvest and this area has been fortunate for yields and pricing,” Mr Bucknall said.
Boort Co-Op Grain prices on Tuesday: Wheat – AGP1 $287. APW1 $318. ASW $300. AUH2 $311. H1 $332. H2 $327. SFW1 $293.  Barley – BAR1 $278. BAR2 $262. BAR3 $247. COMD $278. MA1 $293. PL1 $300. SP1 $293. ZE1 $278.
Canola – CANG $640. Faba Beans – FAB1 $540. FAB2 $520. Lentils – NIP1 $865.  Oats – OAT1 $381. OAT2 $360. Field Peas – PEAK $520. 
Meanwhile, Graincorp last week received 610,900 tonnes in Victoria bringing the total received to 2,041,900 tonnes.
GrainCorp says its network remains highly active, with more than 190,000 tonnes of grain outloaded last week as part of a strong and ongoing outload program.