“Small enough to care – big enough to deliver”
Croker Grain want to be a continued leader in a diverse range of services including commodity trading, logistics and storage in the grain industry.
Croker Grain facilitates the relationship between local farmers and the world’s leading food manufactures.
We continue to build a reputation based upon reliability and honesty, by exceeding our client’s expectation.
Covid-19 continues.. In February, Jason McPherson becomes 3rd ever Managing Director of Croker Grain. He succeeds Greg Carroll who had been MD for the previous 30 years, who took over the role from the founding Managing Director, Max Croker. In March, Lyndon & Kate Benecke become shareholders in Croker Grain. Export container logistics & supply continues to be a major problem to exporters & packers. In February, Russia invades Ukraine, March CBOT wheat future trades at $13.64 per bushel, breaking the record as the highest price ever on CBOT. For those that follow basis CME wheat, Australian grain reached $200 negative at the peak of CME rally. Canola hit $1000 / mt, it would be fair to say we were heading into volatile times, which impacted commodity prices and input values. Record floods in Southern Queensland & Northern NSW. The rain kept coming and coming, limiting access and ability to carry out normal tasks in growing crops. Springs ran where they haven’t run for a couple of generations, then when we needed the sun to shine, its did, and harvest commenced. It was a slow and steady pace, harvest ran to Gentlemen’s hours, with so much moisture around it was hard to continue after sunset. The National crop was another bin buster, the quality was a pleasant surprise, however a big variation was seen pending soil type, drainage, access, and variety. Some harvest was taking place in Feb, to clean up the tail in paddocks that we not accessible all summer. With a few big years in a row, Australia’s export pace was fast, monthly records tumbling, which has seen Cereal prices supported. Our container demand for Wheat, Barley and Oats has been strong, and we too were tracking at a very quick pace, until Marrar Train derailment. Running into Autumn, we started to look dry !! However The rains have come, and an Autumn break we have, which leads us heading into the 50th year celebrations in good spirits.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause lots of issues within all Australian indistries with state and local lockdowns. To add on top of the lockdown frustrations, NSW was hit with a mice plague causing problems throughout the state. In January, NSW Rail closed the southwest rail line from Junee to Griffith for a total upgrade till January 2022. Our site at Marrar, increased its cleaning capacity by 100% with the installation of a new Nufab cleaner from Geraldton, WA. We farewelled long term employee & shareholder Andrea Nimmo from her role after 20 years of loyal service to the company. Croker Grain purchased 11 hectares of land at Marrar on the eastern side of the bunker site & also re-leased Pleasant Hills & Garoolgan sites from Graincorp to store Milling Oats. In September, we commenced construction of two 15,000t grain bunkers on the new land at Marrar. Nestle Singapore commences production of Cleaned Barley from our upgraded Marrar cleaning plant. Export container logistics & supply continues to cause major problems to exporters and packers.Harvest comes around quickly & Australia produces record amounts of grain, Canola port delivered prices hit highs of $1000 per tonne. Wet starts to harvest in NSW, as well as our local region, causes 80% of wheat production to be downgraded to Feed, with rains of up to 150mm falling in November causing the damage, along with the 730mm during the year. Crop yields don't disappoint for all commodities, as Company records for farmers delivering in to company owned sites. Prices on all grains values were firm throughout harvest because shorter grain supply in the Northern Hemisphere. Fertiliser prices hit record highs of $1400 per tonne of MAP & Urea; land, sheep & cattle prices soar, & Australian Bank interest rates hit all-time lows.
The dry continued in 2019 with Marrar receiving yearly total of 327 millimeters of the year with only reciveing 48 mls from Auqust to October. Total rainfall for NSW was the lowest on record-55% below average. Narrarndera Airport received 239mm for the year. Victoria had an above average grain growing year but NSW & Qld had a very tough year. Yields and quality were poor and well below average. For the first time the company’s history we where actively buying and storing grain in Victoria at harvest time. Grain & Pellet demand for on farm feeding was at all time high with our sister company Conqueror Milling operating 24 hours a day 7 days week to keep up with the demand for stockfeed pellets. Lamb & Cattle prices contined to very good. In March we shipped 9000 tonnes of milling oats from the port of Albany to Geelong then delivered to Uncle Toby’s at Wahgunyah.The Federal Government issued import permits for wheat from Canada for use in the flour milling industry. The Marrar Silo & Bunker project development was completed which increased the Marrar storage capicity by 40,000 tonnes. In Sepetember we where honoured by the presents of Deputy Prime Minister Micheal McCormack who official opened the Marrar Silo & Bunker project. Chinese government postphones its announcement anti Barley dumping tariff untill May 2020.
Marrar received 324 millimetres of rain for the year well down on average. The telling issue with the crops is that the region only received between 30 to 50 mls rain from July to October. 2018 was the warmest temperatures on record for NSW. Planning and 1st stage of construction of the Marrar Silo and bunker project commenced with 80% of the project completed just before harvest. All Grain prices were at historical values with wheat trading at $430 to $450 and canola $630-$650 per tonne delivered local depots. Mid November Chinese Government put a shockwave through the Australian barley industry with allegations of Australian company’s discount or dumping barley into the Chinese market. The announcement made Barley drop in price up to $40 to $50 per tonne over night also bring other grain commodities down as well. The Company committed to a long-term lease for the Marrar Rail siding for loading shipping containers on to rail.
Very hot & dry start to the year with rainfall well below average for the 1st half of the year, We purchased grain storage complex at Berrigan which was previously owned by Howard Martin & Co. Commenced manufacturing birdseed from Berrigan location. Company exported 15,000 tonnes of oats into China. In July the company exported its first shipment of clean oats into South Korea. Staff visits customers in Malaysia & India. In August, Damian Moloney, Jason McPherson and Alistair Pennington became shareholders in our company. Company sells Ladysmith grain storage and Widgelli farm and buys land at Marrar next to bunker site.We upgraded container forklift for Marrar container yard. Grainpac packs 150,000 tonnes of grain in export shipping containers from the Melbourne facility.
Brian Bartlett & Des Fleming the founding partners with Max Croker passed away in March and December at the age of 82 & 87 respectfully. we received record rainfall throughout most regions of Australia with major flooding in September in the Riverina. We completed construction of the 2500 tonne grain cleaning and container packing complex at Marrar. Australia produces 33 million tonne of wheat the largest on record. Prices for all grains very depressing with barley, oats, faba beans and lupins hitting 12 year lows. Company breaks record harvest receivals. We leased 10,000 tonnes of grain storage from Graincorp at Garoolgan to accommodate the large oat crop. The grain quality was very good especially oats.
Very hot temperature for the start of the year with a record of amount of the days above 40C. Conqueror Milling Co shipped its first lot of dairy pellets into New Zealand. Croker's expanded out Marrar bunker site by 20,000 tonnes with erecting 4 x 5000 bunkers. The Wettern Family's grain storage complex at Henty was purchased; it has a capacity of 18,000 tonnes. Similarly, a small irrigation farm at Widgelli was purchased for potential future expansion for our storage capacity in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Research work commenced for Nestle in Singapore and Australia with malt barley for Milo production. The Graincorp Marrar storage complex was leased with capacity of 36,000 tonnes. 2 x 1250 tonnes silos at Conqueror Mill were erected. Harvest in the area was slightly below average. Pulses and Oat yields were the most effected by lack of finishing rains.
Company enjoys 40 years in business. Erected new container packing shed at Marrar. Company became shareholder in grain container packing facility in Melbourne called Grainpac. The season turned out a bit below average after an excellent start during the winter. Major late frost damage occurred to crops at the end of the growing year. October & November saw below average rainfall.
Record rainfall and floods in February / March. Widgelli Grain Storage was saved from flood waters with the building of levy bank to protect it from the Mirrool Creek. First Export of Faba Bean Meal into Japan for Aquaculture from the Mill at Cootamundra. Constructed new conveyor for silos at Marrar. Consigned first direct parcels of grain into China and Vietnam. We Continued with container packing service with 4000 containers packed for the year. Purchased house next to Widgelli storage shed.
January loaded 11,000 tonnes of oats on a ship ex Geelong for South Africa on behalf of CBH. Very bad Mice plague in the autumn and winter. Major damage to crops, grain stocks and plant. The mice at night were like a raging river. Purchased second shipping container forklift as well as Ausmech container packer with the capacity of 5 tonnes per minute. Packed over 4000 shipping containers of grain for export from Marrar, Cootamundra & Widgelli. Wet harvest with a large quantity of wheat had been downgraded to feed.
The first five months of the year we only received 80mm rainfall and that set the scene for the rest of the year, Yields again were below local average .Total rainfall for the year at Marrar was 350mm same as 2008.
Good summer rain gave some hope for the coming year. Average rainfall for the first half of the year but the last half was very disappointing with well below average rainfall in the spring. The top half of NSW had above rainfall and they had an above average harvest. Yields in our area were a lot better then last year with production on average 1 to 1.50 tonne per hectare. Marrar, Ladysmith and Cootamundra grain storage were filled to capacity but Griffith storage was disappointing because of the lack of production from the area. Wheat price hit $500 per tonne on farm during year. Ladysmith 8000 head feedlot stops feeding cattle. World finance markets crash.
Drought continues. (The year of farmer contract washouts) We thought 2006 was bad but 2007 found another new low in crop production. With 65% of the crop in southern New South Wales was cut for hay. Crop production yields were no better then half tonne per hectare. Shipped and trucked grain from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Northern NSW. Low feed demand because of farmer animal restocking. Packed our first lot of wheat in containers for export.
Drought continues, worst harvest on record. Most crops averaged 2 bags per acre (350kg per hectare). Grain quality very good. Total grain received in Marrar, Coolamon and Ladysmith was 490 tonnes. Built new intake system on silos at Widgelli. Cootamundra mill starts 24 hour per day operation. Deregulation of the export wheat container market. Australia's largest oat miller Uncle Toby appoints Croker Grain as one of their preferred suppliers. Change trading name at Cootamundra to Conqueror Milling Company.
Drought continues driest six months on record, receive good rain in mid June,spring rains are good and the year ends with above average crops. Finish upgrade on pellet mill at Cootamundra with the installation of new boiler, cooling tower, hammermill and product handling equipment. Become Hifert fertiliser dealers. Spring was very soft which helped late crops. Harvest yields were average around 3.5 to 4.0 tonnes to the hectare for wheat.
Drought continues, very poor harvest yields and high screenings grain. Move company head office from Wagga Wagga to Marrar. Erected 4 x 1300 tonnes silos at Widgelli and increased Marrar grain bunker storage by 4000 tonne. Cootamundra Mill storage and milling areas were upgraded with the construction of 12 x 125 tonnes silos.
M C Croker celebrates 30 years of business. The worst drought in 100 years continues. Croker's imports lupins and feed oats from Western Australia to the Cootamundra Mill. Purchased in May 8000 tonne of grain storage from Sunrice at Widgelli ( 10 km east of Griffith.)
Completed construction and commenced manufacturing and shipment of fibre pellet for export to Korea. Delivered our first lupin meal for the aquaculture industry into Japan and Tasmania. It was a drought year.
Purchased grain store at Ladysmith from Graincorp, Ladysmith depot is used predominantly to service Hannan Livestock Group owners of the Ladysmith feedlot.
Croker's constructed 14,000 tonne of bunker storage at the Marrar depot to increase overall storage capacity of Marrar to 24,000 tonne. The Rock was leased from Aussie Cereals to store triticale and milling oats (with a capacity of 4000 tonnes). We exported 1st shipment of Albus lupin to Egypt 5000 tonnes
Croker's were appointed commission agent for Agracorp Pty Ltd the trading arm of the Grain Pool of Western Australia. This appointment was to accumulate and service albus lupins in New South Wales for the Middle East export market.
The company formed a relationship with the Dart family to establish a storage depot at Griffith to service the Uncle Toby's Co (in contracting milling oats).
Max Croker retires and sells his interest in the business
Drought year. A lupin-dehulling plant was constructed at the Cootamundra site with milling capacity of 10 tonne per hour, to supply lupin protein meal to Ingham Enterprises for their poultry feeds. Continental Grain sells its oilseed crushing plants and business in Australia to Cargill. Croker's becomes commission agents for Cargill Oilseeds for canola.
Purchased and relocated office to 45 Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga. Graincorp silo at Ladysmith is leased for storage (has 4000 tonnes capacity).
Erected new weighbridge, office block and 250 tonne bulk fertiliser storage at the Coolamon depot.
Purchased grain store at Coolamon which was establish by the Mutton Family whom were major players in the cereal chaff industry. Storage capacity of 5000 tonne.
Company saw a number of major changes and opportunties in the grain industry. The conola industry contined to grow and the deregulation of the domestic wheat market . This enabled the business to provide services to a wider band of end users, companies like Weston Milling and Bunge feeds ( who remain strong supporters of the business today). With the increased usage of grain in the pig, dairy and beef industry saw a need to expand grain storage capacity at Marrar by 2500 tonnes in 1988.
M C Croker became a commission agent for Continental Grain, to contract rapeseed for their oilseed crushing plant in Sydney. Continental through M C Croker gave backup support to growers to expand the rapeseed production, by offering agronomy advise, local storage delivery and GMP contracts with an act of god clause. This was the start of a great business relationship. M C Croker was the first grain handler to store rapeseed on a commercial basis in New South Wales.
Further expansion occurred when the company purchased the Stratton Flour Mill at Cootamundra from Clifford Love & Co (then the manufacturer of Uncle Toby's Rolled Oats). The Mill has been a great acquisition to the company because of its storage layout with a 40-bin segregation and a total capacity of 12,500 tonnes. The storage was mainly filled with milling oats and feed Oats (Cooba Oats being the main variety). In recent years the Mill has received most grains, oilseeds and pulses. Croker's relocated its Wagga Office to 25 Gurwood Street as the lease on the Murrumbidgee Flour Mill in Wagga Wagga expired.
With continued support from the local farming community Croker's constructed a grain and fertiliser depot at Marrar with 6000 tonne capacity of grain storage and 700 tonne of fertiliser storage. This storage complex was built to service malting and feed barley for the Barley Marketing Board of NSW and wheat for Bunge Feeds and Ingham Enterprises as well as cropping fertiliser distribution depot for Australian Fertiliser Limited.
M C Croker increased storage capacity by 6000 tonnes when the company leased and moved office to the Murrumbidgee Flour Mill in Wagga Wagga. With this extra capacity the company built a relationship with companies such as Uncle Toby's, Bunge Feeds and Ingham Chickens handling mainly oats, lupins and barley.
M C Croker acquired its first grain storage on Lake Albert Rd Wagga Wagga from Bunge Australia; it had storage capacity of 2500 tonnes mainly storing malting and feed barley on behalf of the Barley Marketing Board of NSW.
In May Max employed his first full time employee, Greg Carroll, who after a few years became a partner.
Company founders were Max Croker and Brian Bartlett, the original office was shared with the General Accident Insurance Co in Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga, next door to Blake's Stock and Station Agents. M C CROKER P/L was incorporated the 5th of April 1973. For the first couple of years, Max operated as a sole trader, trading mainly oats and barley to feed mills and malt houses in Sydney and Melbourne and some chaff from Logan & Hitchens at Ganmian into produce stores in Brisbane. In the 1970's the wheat industry was highly regulated and was illegal to trade on the domestic or export market.
