Western Australia's farmers have closed the history book on an almost $7 billion crop, their most valuable and second-largest harvest ever.

Key points: Strong demand from drought-affected regions on the east coast drove the harvest's record profits

Strong demand from drought-affected regions on the east coast drove the harvest's record profits WA's main grain handler had to build 1.1 million tonnes of emergency storage to relieve pressure on its network

WA's main grain handler had to build 1.1 million tonnes of emergency storage to relieve pressure on its network With 80 per cent of crops sown in dry soil anticipating rainfall that did not arrive until late, flexibility has been praised

Grain Industry Association of Western Australia's (GIWA) final crop report puts the final harvest figure at 17.9 million tonnes of grain.

The harvest's record profit was driven by strong demand from drought-affected regions on the east coast.

This year's crop value is almost $1 billion higher than the previous record set in 2013, with tonnage beaten only by an 18.2 million tonne harvest two years ago.

The state produced about 10 million tonnes of wheat, 5.1 million tonnes of barley, 1.4 million tonnes of canola, 600,000 tonnes of lupins and 500,000 tonnes of oats.

Farmers such as Robert Kitto are smiling this year after exceptional prices and production delivered their best harvest yet. ( ABC Mid West and Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis )

WA's main grain handler, CBH Group, received 16.4 million tonnes of grain, with the rest was taken up by private sales, deliveries to competing handlers and on-farm storage for seed stock or feed.

CBH had to build 1.1 million tonnes of emergency storage to hold up against the pressure on its network.

GIWA's crop report author Michael Lamond said it was an unusual year.

"It was, for a lot of growers, a once-in-a-20-year or once-in-a-lifetime event," he said.

"The unusual thing in 2018 was the areas that went well were quite widespread across the state."

Adaptability is key

However, the season was not without challenges.

GIWA crop report author Michael Lamond says he was struck by growers' ability to adapt to a challenging season. ( ABC Rural: Jon Daly )

It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of the state's crops were sown in dry soil in anticipation for decent rainfall that didn't arrive until as late as June in some areas to the south.

After a wet winter, growers faced a very dry spring and frost events along the south coast.

GIWA's October crop update forecast a final harvest of 14.2 million tonnes until well-timed rains returned in the last months of the year.

Mr Lamond said the ability of farmers to adapt their practices to the changing seasonal conditions was the key to success.

WA's northern grain-growing regions delivered the largest crop, especially the eastern Kwinana Zone which beat its previous record by more than half-a-million tonnes with an 8 million tonne harvest.

For 35 years Robert Kitto has farmed in the north, about 100 kilometres east of the mid-west city of Geraldton, and said he has never seen a time with exceptional grain prices and production hand-in-hand.

This year's profits have given him the confidence to expand his farming operation.

"It's a bit like getting a free kick in life to be able to springboard and get the confidence to push forward for another five or 10 years," Mr Kitto said.

High grain prices have largely been driven by the drought and strong demand from other states in Australia. ( ABC Mid West and Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis )

However, he said he was aware his profit partly came at the cost of thousands of east-coast farmers.

"I believe we all get a turn at good times and poor times, and it's up to us to make ourselves stronger to hold out in those tough times," Mr Kitto said.

Drought-driven prices

Unprecedented grain prices, in no small way, stemmed from the prolonged drought in New South Wales and Queensland.

Farmanco grain marketer Don McTaggart says 2018 grain prices were some of the highest seen in a decade. ( ABC Rural: Jon Daly )

Farmanco's Don McTaggart, a grain marketer with 15 years of experience, said WA was sending more grain east this year than it ever had.

"[We're] looking at probably 3 million tonnes of wheat and a million tonnes of barley — and that number could increase," Mr McTaggart said.

"We've seen prices better than the top 5 per cent for wheat and feed barley, and top 10 per cent for canola, for the last decade."

Mr McTaggart said high production and yield diluted the grain quality of northern grain crops.

On the south coast, where crops struggled and some growers faced one of their toughest seasons yet, the quality was higher.

In the state's south-east, Esperance farmer Lyndon Mickel described the season as a rollercoaster.

"Having very minimal rainfall through from March to the end of July, it really tests your resolve and tests the bank balance a bit too," Mr Mickel said.

Unrivalled grain prices have been the saving grace for Esperance farmer Lyndon Mickel, who has faced a less-than-perfect season. ( ABC Great Southern: Mark Bennett )

"We'll come out about on par or just above par. Enough to get it to go around again anyway."

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In the Great Southern region, farms around the town of Lake Grace, about 400km south-east of Perth, received less than 100 millimetres for the entire season.

Lake Grace farmer Shane Carruthers said his grain yields averaged at just over a tonne per hectare — in no way helped by a significant frost event in mid-September.

"Because it was under moisture stress it probably made it more susceptible," he said.

"It didn't even get out of the stem."

Like many others on the south coast, strong prices were Mr Carruthers' saving grace.

"You don't need as many tonnes when the price is right," he said.

It has been a season WA farmers and grain marketers like Mr McTaggart will not soon forget.

"It's going to be a year people will tell their grandkids about," he said.