Record grain harvest predicted for south-coast Australia

(ABC News) -- A Western Australian grain handler says the south-coast is on track to producer one of the biggest harvests on record.

Co-operative Bulk Handling is predicting an eight to 10 million tonne harvest this season.

Albany is expected to produce over one quarter of that total.

Operations manager Colin Tutt says Albany should top its previous record of 2.7 million tonnes of grain, based on increased plantings and good rainfall.

Mr Tutt says canola plantings have increased by 30 per cent this year, with growers keen to cash in on high grain prices.

"The Albany zone is just fantastic. They've probably had one of their best starts and there's enormous amounts of plantings this year, in comparison to previous years so that area is set for record production if we can get the rains to keep coming as they have been," he said.