A YEAR-round cropping property in far-north NSW is being offered for sale with the buyer having the attractive option of taking over the outgoing owner's winter cropping program.
The option gives the prospective purchaser the wherewithal to book an immediate return on the investment, with cashflow from summer crops set to provide a further income stream by mid-2016.
On offer, through Elders Goondiwindi's Clayton Smith, is the McIntyre River-fronting property "Carmya", held since 1948 by the Durkin family and for sale now to enable the retirement of David and Rose Durkin.
The property is being offered for sale by expressions of interest, with recent district sales suggesting a value range from $2500 to $4250 a hectare ($1000-$1700/ac), depending on what crops might be included.
Situated near Yetman, 38 kilometres south-east of Goondiwindi, the 953ha (2355ac) "Carmya" is ideally suited to winter and summer cropping or to a mixed farming or cattle trading or finishing operation.
The property is described as slightly undulating with about 50 per cent of the area being heavy black floodplain soils and the balance chocolate brigalow/belah soils.
At present 626ha is cropped and the current program comprises 285ha of wheat, 196ha of barley, 120ha of chickpeas and 25ha of oats, all of which will be available for purchase by an early buyer if desired.
The present owners have farmed the country for long-term sustainability, using legume rotations, strategic fertiliser application, zero till and controlled traffic technology.
This program has delivered typical wheat yields of about three tonnes a hectare while barley and chickpea yields have averaged 3.5t/ha and 2-2.25t/ha respectively.
The property's location offers a range of grain marketing outlets, with several large end-users and feedlots within a 100km radius.
Crops now in the ground were planted on a full moisture profile, topped up by a timely fall of 30 millimetres-plus in mid-June, and are showing above-average promise.
In addition to the cropping operation a cattle herd of 60 to 70 breeders has been run on "Carmya" under a long-term agistment arrangement with a neighbour.
A feature of "Carmya" is its generous 3.5km (about) frontage to the McIntyre River, which underpins a stock water reticulation system servicing the property as well as offering irrigation potential.
Average rainfall is 625mm and this, combined with a benign climate and productive soils, makes the property well suited to year-round cash cropping or fodder cropping for a commercial or stud livestock operation.
A comfortable, air-conditioned homestead built in the 1930s with subsequent additions features a central breezeway and spacious floorplan.
It is set in established gardens with a watering system.
Working structures include various machinery and storage sheds, a workshop/garage, timber and steel cattle yards to handle 200 head, and Sherwell elevated silos with total capacity of 560t.
Offers for "Carmya" are now being accepted, with the owners prepared to consider a walk-in, walk-out sale if a buyer wishes it.
Peter Austin
Former editor and long time columnist and property writer for The Land.
Former editor and long time columnist and property writer for The Land.
