In the context of a new marketing era for wheat, and early indications of a two million tonne wheat harvest on the back of a 2.7mt summer crop, there's renewed focus on the State's handling and storeage systems.

The greatest concern centres on the amount of 'carry-over' from the 2007/08 summer crop impacting on the ability of the major receival depots to accommodate the harvest as headers are warmed up prior to starting work within the next two weeks.

The saving grace could be those canny producers who have ordered and installed extra on-farm storeage capacity in a bid to beat frustrating delays at storage centres, or as a hedge against fluctuating prices.

Farmers have become increasingly edgy about the issue, inundating silo manufacturers with orders since the turn of the year.

But Graincorp Meandarra's Peter Tomlinson says that site is well-placed to accept any increase in tonnage from this year’s harvest.

With only about 20pc of capacity being accounted for by last year's summer crop, he says there's plenty of room to store this year's winter crop.

It is against this back drop that Queensland Rail has pledged it "won't walk away" from its commitment to the state’s grain industry.

Its comments follow AgForce last week flagging its concerns about insufficient trains being available to shift this year's winter crop harvest.

A statement from QR says it is continuing to talk to grain industry officials as southern Queensland broadacre producers prepare to gather in more grain than usual on the back of one of the best winter seasons in years.

* Extract from a full report to appear in Queensland Country Life, October 9 edition.