SA:Viterra hunts for harvesters

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2010
SA:Viterra hunts for harvesters

By Liza Kappelle

ADELAIDE, Aug 16 AAP - Global agribusiness Viterra will double the size of its Australia/New
Zealand workforce to deal with the bumper grains harvest.

Viterra began seeking up to 1200 casual harvesters in South Australia on Monday, as
the competition heated up in Australia's wheat industry with a new bid for grains marketer
AWB Ltd.

"This enormous intake of casual employees will see Viterra's Australian/New Zealand
workforce double," the company said in a statement.

The Canadian group, which took over ABB Grain last year, is seeking the workers in
SA where it owns storage and grain handling facilities.

Viterra President South-East Asia, Rob Gordon, says September through to January are
the busiest time for the company.

"It's a great opportunity for anyone looking for short-term work during spring and
early summer," Mr Gordon said.

Most of the casual workers they are seeking are bulk grain handlers but casual weighbridge
operators, administrators and front-line customer service staff are also needed.

Farmers are expecting a bumper wheat crop this year against a backdrop of drought and
poor production in Europe and Russia.

Earlier on Monday, Canada-based Agrium Inc joined other international players looking
for a slice of the local agribusiness sector, with an unsolicited $1.23 billion bid for
AWB.

AWB, which is facing much greater competition since the abolition of its monopoly in
exporting bulk wheat from Australia, is also subject to a merger proposal from GrainCorp
Ltd.

AWB scrapped a proposed deal with United States-based Gavilon LLC in favour of the
GrainCorp merger.

AAP lk/jm

KEYWORD: VITERRA

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