This survey provided accurate information on total stocks of grain held by major commercial grain storage operators and bulk handling facilities in Australia. To avoid the possibility of duplication in reporting, only quantities actually held in storage facilities operated by the selected business, regardless of grain ownership, were collected from each business. This included storage facilities rented from other businesses where the selected business was responsible for the operation of the facility. The information assisted both government and industry manage feed grain supplies.
The first cycle of the survey collected information on stocks of grain on hand at 31 December 2002 and 31 January 2003. Subsequent surveys progressively tracked the quantity of grain held in these storage facilities with collections undertaken for the following reference periods; 28 February 2003 and then quarterly at 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December for the years 2003 and 2004.
In October 2006, in response to the extremely dry conditions, the ABS was asked to recommence the collection. The reference period 31 October 2006 was the first of a series of monthly collections ending on 29 February 2008. Following that cycle, the collection was conducted on two more occasions, at the end of March 2008 and end of December 2008.
The Stocks of Grain survey collected details of stocks held for the following grain types by grade and State:
Wheat (milling, feed, other)
Oats (milling, feed, other)
Barley (malting, feed, other)
Triticale
Sorghum
Oilseeds
Other grain (specify)
Stocks of wheat data continues to be collected in the Grain Handlers Stocks survey and published in Wheat Use and Stocks, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0).
PURPOSE
The purpose of the survey was to provide accurate information on stocks of grain held in Australia by major commercial grain storage operators and bulk handling facilities. This information assisted both government and industry manage feed grain supplies. This information becomes particularly relevant when drought causes a shortfall of available feed grain resulting in the need to import grain.
SCOPE
Major Australian bulk grain storage facilities and grain handling facilities.
DATA DETAIL
Conceptual framework
The Stocks of Grain on Hand survey provided a measure of grain stocks at the reference date. Initially the survey collected information on stocks at hand on 31 December 2002 and 31 January 2003 providing information on the supply of grain held in storage at that time. Subsequent collections progressively updated these details
The scope of the collection was the management units of major commercial grain storage operators and bulk storage facilities.
Main outputs
The principal outputs are as follows:
Stocks of grain in Australia held by major grain storage operators and bulk handling facilities at the reference date. This information was available at the National level for wheat (milling and other), barley (malting and other), oats, triticale, oilseeds and 'Sorghum, other feed grains and pulses'.
Statistics were only published in the form of aggregated data.
Classifications
Standards used in the Stocks of Grain on Hand Survey include:
A. Geographical regions
Australia
Other concepts (summary)
GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
Australia
Comments and/or Other Regions
COLLECTION FREQUENCY
Adhoc
Frequency comments
The survey was to be undertaken on an ad hoc basis. The first four surveys were conducted on a monthly basis and the next three on a quarterly basis. In 2004 it was decided that the collection should continue on a quarterly basis. The collection was not conducted over 2005 but recommenced in October 2006 on a monthly basis until February 2008. Following that cycle, the collection was conducted on two more occasions, at the end of March 2008 and end of December 2008.
COLLECTION HISTORY
The collection was developed following a need for grain stocks data during the 2002 drought. The collection ran until the end of December 2004 at which time the data was considered no longer necessary by the industry. In October 2006, following drought conditions across Australia, the collection re-commenced on a monthly basis until February 2008. The collection was reviewed and it was decided to conduct it on two more occasions, at the end of March 2008 and end of December 2008. Stocks of wheat (only) data continues to be collected in the Grain Handlers Stocks survey and published in Wheat Use and Stocks, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0)
DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes
Data availability comments
The data from the Stocks of Grain on Hand survey were disseminated as an electronic publication on the ABS web site (Cat No. 7122.0.55.001).
DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT
14/04/2009 09:18 AM
