![Pulse delivery issues Pulse delivery issues](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/1054608.jpg/r0_0_400_265_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
PULSE Australia has noted farmers have had trouble delivering off-specification pulse crops into the bulk handling system.
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Downgrading has hit many of the major human consumption pulse crops, including lentils, faba beans and kabuli chickpeas.
Pulse Australia southern industry manager Wayne Hawthorne said while there were not prices for all off-specification grain, some bulk handling systems were putting in segregations, allowing growers to deliver them into the system and find a market for them later.
However, he said it took time to organise new segregations, and not all of the out of standard pulses could be accommodated.
He said although it was hard for growers with product that could not be delivered, the Australian Pulse Standards developed by Pulse Australia had been designed to protect Australia’s reputation as a quality producer of pulses.
He said the standards met commonly accepted market requirements, along with Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) guidelines.
While AQIS requirements are non-negotiable, standard items that relate to market quality have been developed as a “basis for trade” and both domestic and international commercial contracts are usually negotiated and written in accordance with them.
However, with the other standards, growers and marketers will have the opportunity to try and find alternative markets for the product, usually at a discount to the standard product.
Examples of this include No 2 grade lentils and faba beans, which are often bought at a discount by end-users.
Mr Hawthorne said the season had been marred by higher levels of weathered grain including mould/field fungi, wrinkled (loose) seed coat and stained seed coat.
“All are market quality issues and therefore may be able to be negotiated between parties in some circumstances,” he said.
Although growers are likely to be able to find a home for grain at some stage, he said it may be a while before they can deliver, meaning they may have to store grain on-farm.
“Growers are advised to make enquiries with as many receival points in their area as possible, but it may be necessary to store grain on-farm,” he said.
He warned farmers needed to be careful with their on-farm storage system and suggested they not rely on short-term storage options such as silo or grain bags for longer periods.