11 May 2026

Grain Matters Edition 107 – May 2026

NWPGP Conference 2026 Early Bird registration closes Friday, 25 May

Early Bird registrations for the NWPGP 2026 Australian Grain Storage and Protection Conference close COB Friday, 15 May 2026.

Now in its 53rd year, NWPGP brings together the grains supply chain to explore the latest developments in grain storage and protection, including market requirements, pest management, residue compliance and emerging technologies.

The two-day conference will feature expert speakers from industry, research and regulatory organisations, delivering practical insights and opportunities to connect with peers across the sector.

Delegates can attend in person in Melbourne or access content via a virtual recording pass.

View the program and register

GTA Trading Standards update: Member feedback shaping 2026/27 changes

Updates to the GTA Trading Standards are beginning to take shape, following strong industry engagement in response to Member Update No. 3 of 2026.

The GTA Trading Standards Committee has reviewed submissions and released a further Member Update – No. 9 of 2026. This outlined the agreed changes for the 2026/27 season, along with areas where industry feedback is still being sought.

A key theme from this year’s review is stronger alignment with market requirements and practical application. Several changes reflect evolving customer expectations, export market demand and operational realities across the supply chain.

Agreed changes include:

An increase in the minimum Falling Number (FN) for AGP1 wheat from a minimum of 200 seconds to 250 seconds. Bringing it into closer alignment with market expectations for milling quality. The Committee noted there is no market demand for AGP1 with an FN of below 250 seconds due to the poorer quality of the resulting flour. In general, where the average FN of wheat stacks are below 250 seconds, the grain generally goes to the Feed market.
Adjustments to tolerances in a number of pulse standards, particularly for split products and machine-dressed exports. These changes reflect customer preferences for tighter quality outcomes in value-added products.

The Committee has also progressed a range of clarifications and technical refinements across cereals and pulses. In barley, work is continuing to modernise varietal identification. This includes new provisions to support the use of technology such as machine learning tools, alongside existing visual and DNA-based methods.

Further consultation
Consultation remains open, with Members encouraged to provide feedback on outstanding issues and any additional areas for consideration ahead of finalisation of the 2026/27 Standards.

Submissions COB Friday, 15 May 2026.

GTA Member Export Conformance Seminar & Networking Drinks in Dubbo

GTA Members are invited to join us in Dubbo on Monday, 25 May for an afternoon of industry updates and an evening of networking with the GTA Board and team.

GTA Member Export Conformance Seminar

Hear from GTA’s Tim Ross, Projects / Operations Manager, and Pat O’Shannassy, CEO, as they provide updates on key industry developments and operational matters, including:

Fumigation – Methyl Bromide & Phosphine Workplace Exposure Limits
Middle East Fuel Crisis / Fair Work Australia – Road Transport Order
Export conformance updates.

The seminar provides members with an opportunity to stay informed on current industry issues and engage directly with GTA leadership.

Time: 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Venue: Pastoral Hotel, 110 Talbragar Street, Dubbo, NSW

GTA Member Networking Drinks

GTA Members are invited to join the GTA Board and team for networking drinks from 5.30pm.
Strengthen relationships across the sector and enjoy an evening with industry colleagues in Dubbo.

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Pastoral Hotel, 110 Talbragar Street, Dubbo, NSW

Registration for both events is essential.

Road Transport Order introduces new fuel cost obligations

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has introduced an urgent Road Transport Contractual Chain Order (RTCCO), effective 21 April 2026, with an update issued on 1 May 2026.

The RTCCO establishes legal requirements for fuel cost recovery across road transport contractual chains. These obligations apply broadly across the supply chain and are not optional.

Its application within the grain industry remains unclear. In particular, the interaction with delivered grain contracts presents challenges. This includes how fuel-related adjustments are managed alongside commodity price movements and different freight procurement methods.

GTA has commenced a review of the potential impacts across grain contracts and freight arrangements. GTA will engage with the FWC to provide industry input. This will include raising concerns regarding the limited consultation and lack of clarity on how the order applies in practice.

The Commission is expected to review the order in late May 2026. GTA will continue to monitor developments and update Members as further information becomes available.

Given these changes may apply to existing contracts, members involved in road freight should review their contractual arrangements and seek advice where required.

Members are encouraged to refer to the GTA Member Update No. 10 of 2026 for detailed information on the RTCCO and its potential implications.

GTA engages with Safe Work Australia on workplace exposure limits

GTA has met with Safe Work Australia, alongside industry, to raise concerns about revised workplace exposure limits, including phosphine. The discussion confirmed strong industry concern and that the next phase sits with the government. GTA is now working with industry on a coordinated advocacy approach to seek practical implementation and alignment with real-world operations. Read more.

Micor platform transition planned for July 2026

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) will transition the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) to a new platform in July 2026. The project is to ensure continued access to importing country requirements for agricultural exports.

The transition is required as support for the current platform will cease in July 2026, increasing exposure to security risks. The new platform will maintain system reliability and security.

What this means for Members
Most users are expected to experience minimal impact. All existing content will be migrated. The micor.agriculture.gov.au URL will remain unchanged. However, Members will need to update any saved bookmarks to specific pages following the transition.

To meet Australian Government security standards, the new platform will introduce Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) for access to password-protected content. This will require users to enter a one-time passcode sent via email or generated through an authenticator application, in addition to their password.

Training and support
User guides and training materials will be provided ahead of the transition, including guidance on setting up TFA. Online demonstrations will be delivered in June 2026, with registration details shared in May.

Updates will be provided through email, the Micor portal and the DAFF website.

For GTA Members, the transition is intended to ensure continued, secure access to importing country requirements to support export compliance.

GTA contributes to regional plant breeding discussions

Grain Trade Australia Technical Market Access Consultant Rosemary Richards represented GTA at the Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA) Conference in Indonesia in April, contributing to regional discussions on plant breeding innovation and regulatory alignment.

The global forum focused on strengthening regional approaches to plant breeding, including genome-edited crops, and builds on previous consultations aimed at supporting their adoption.

GTA’s participation provided an opportunity to highlight grain trade and supply chain considerations in these discussions, including the importance of harmonised regulatory frameworks to support trade and the adoption of new breeding techniques.

The forum also focused on capacity building, knowledge sharing and strengthening public–private partnerships to improve access to quality seed.

For GTA members, engagement in these discussions supports the development of more consistent, science-based regulatory settings, helping to reduce trade risk and support market access as new technologies evolve.

News in Brief

A recap of the release since April’s edition of Grain Matters

2nd Industry Call for Submissions on 2026/27 GTA Standards – Member Update No. 9 of 2026
Road Transport Contractual Chain Order (RTCCO) – Member Update No. 10 of 2026
GTA Life Membership – Call for Nominations – Member Update No. 11 of 2026

New GTA Technical Guideline Document: No. 24 Grain Preparation Plan – Member Update No. 12 of 2026
Education Standards Reform Principles – GTA Submission
Review of the Accredited Grain Surveyor Assurance Scheme – GTA Submission
Outcome of GPPEICC Meeting 17 March 2026 – GTA Market Notification

Stay up to Date

Visit the News section of the GTA website for the latest updates on GTA activity, submissions, and industry developments.

GTA Training & Development

As Semester 1, 2026, comes to an end, don’t miss the three compelling workshops still available in May and June. GTA Members enjoy preferential pricing for both online and in-person sessions.

May’s workshop

In the interest of members and in light of the fuel disruption, the Grain Merchandising workshop, scheduled for 20–21 May is now online. I Learn more

June’s workshops

24-25 June I Grain Trading for Non-Traders (Melbourne) I Learn more

GTA's Events

AGIC Australia: Registrations open

AGIC Australia returns 29 – 30 July at Crown Promenade, Melbourne, delivering two days of expert insights, industry-leading speakers and valuable networking opportunities for the grain industry.

New for 2026, AGIC Week (27–31 July) expands the program with additional free networking events and international engagement. GTA will host delegates from Asia, sponsored by AusTrade, with a program including an information symposium, a field visit to Horsham and a visit to Geelong Port.

Conference highlights include HFW’s Women in Grains Networking Breakfast, Young Professionals Networking Event, hosted by Five Under 30, Welcome Reception, sponsored by Port of Melbourne and the AGIC Gala Dinner, proudly supported by CBH Group, held at Crown Palladium.

Early Bird pricing and flexible ticket options are available.

Find out more and register

GTA marks 35 years

Grain Trade Australia (GTA) will celebrate 35 years of industry leadership with a Gala Dinner in Sydney this October.

The event recognises the contribution of members, committees and volunteers who have helped shape a trusted and efficient grain trading environment over the past three decades.

Event details

Date: Wednesday, 28 October
Venue: Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

The evening will bring together GTA Members and industry participants to connect and reflect on this milestone.

Registrations are open

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