CBH Group offers growers fee discount for estimates
- A fee discount of $0.50 per tonne offered to Western Australian growers this season.
- To be eligible for the discount, growers must submit their 2019/20 crop estimates through Paddock Planner and make harvest deliveries using the CDF app.
- New and improved functionality made to Paddock Planner following grower feedback.
- Estimates help CBH better plan harvest services according to grower demand.
The CBH Group is set to offer growers a discount on their fees this season to encourage growers to submit their crop estimates early to help with site and service preparations for harvest.
The co-operative is asking growers to submit their cropping plans through Paddock Planner – the online mapping tool that helps growers to keep their information up to date and accurate to a paddock level.
Available through CBH’s secure online portal LoadNet, Paddock Planner provides CBH with a clearer picture of what crops are being grown and where it is likely to be delivered so sites and services can be planned according to grower demand.
This year, growers will be able to earn a $0.50 discount on their receival fees* if they:
- Complete their cropping plans and estimates through Paddock Planner by 14 July 2019, and
- Use the CDF app for their harvest deliveries up to 28 February 2020.
The discount is in addition to any rebates that may apply for the 2019-20 season.
All estimates data entered into Paddock Planner automatically syncs with CBH’s CDF app used at delivery including paddocks, commodities and varieties.
Together, the programs help to make harvest deliveries easier, with real time notifications, and speeds up turnaround times at site for growers.
Chief Executive Jimmy Wilson said CBH’s performance at harvest starts with growers’ cropping plans.
“Estimates are essential for CBH to plan the right services at the right sites for our growers, and through Paddock Planner, we’re able to get a more accurate picture to optimise our planning,” Mr Wilson said.
“Estimates also help determine future investment into the network, where we can start to take a longer-term view of what storage and services are needed and start planning for those accordingly."
Mr Wilson added that he appreciated that through Paddock Planner growers were sharing more detailed information with CBH and assures that the co-operative is committed to protecting personal and business information in line with Australia’s Privacy Act.
“We take our growers information security very seriously – their privacy is our priority, every day,” Mr Wilson said.
“We collect estimates only for the purpose in which it is intended, which is to ensure our Operations division can provide the services that growers demand for the coming harvest, better plan for future harvests and keep improve our services and products.
“We cannot do this effectively without accurate estimates from growers”.
New and improved functionality for Paddock Planner
It is the second consecutive year growers can complete their crop estimates through Paddock Planner, with approximately 40 per cent of estimates completed last year through the online tool.
General Manager Operations Ben Macnamara said following feedback from growers last year, CBH has made some improvements so growers can better manage their properties and estimates.
“Growers can now upload shapefiles, KMZ or KML files from other mapping software that they may already use directly into Paddock Planner, potentially saving them time when mapping out their paddocks before they then enter estimates,” Mr Macnamara said.
“There is also the option of splitting paddocks and entering multiple commodities or varieties, so growers have a clearer overview of their business.
“Of course, there’s always room for improvement and we’re always open to suggestions to keep improving Paddock Planner in years to come.”