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Murray Industrial Hemp has attracted initial investors for its development near Barham with limited spots left for those who see a bright future in building products made from the miracle plant.
Scientifically known as Cannabis sativa, industrial hemp is specifically bred to contain minimal levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, unlike its close relative marijuana.
Murray Industrial Hemp aims to be an end-to-end, environmentally sustainable growing and manufacturing alternative to conventional house bricks, at a competitive price point. While production and processing are in their infancy locally, the company plans to strategically develop its market share in Australia by importing a range of hemp products, including hempcrete blocks and insulation batts.
Investor confidence has been boosted by an assessment undertaken in accordance with the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Economic Evaluation for Business Cases Technical Guidance. The assessment, made using the assumptions provided, found a benefit-cost ratio of 1.6, suggesting that the project’s benefits will outweigh its costs. Additionally, a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 42 per cent and a net present value of $59 million indicate a positive financial gain over the project’s life.
The versatile plant thrives in well-drained sandy loam to clayey loam irrigated soils in Northern Victoria and
Southern NSW. It’s hoped that the ancient plant will provide opportunities for local producers.
The biomass-rich plant can reach 3m to 4m, with minimal branching. Growing comparisons provided by Murray Industrial Hemp suggest the crop can be waterefficient and still obtain a gross margin return of $3,049 per hectare, and a return of $609 per megalitre.
Industrial hemp is also said to play a crucial role in soil improvement within agricultural rotations. Studies have recognised its efficacy in returning nutrients to the soil through decomposed leaves, stubble, and root systems. Additionally, the plant’s rich secondary metabolites help reduce soil insect attacks and infections by soilborne pathogens in subsequent crops.
It is forecast that the demand for industrial hemp will rise significantly, driven by its role as a substitute and complement to traditional forestry products. The company plans to capitalise on this demand by cultivating and processing hemp, creating 30 full-time equivalent direct and indirect jobs, fostering stable local employment, and generating an annual economic activity of $4.4 million.
To find out more, contact Leigh Fletcher at info@ murrayindustrialhemp.com.au or call 0429 144 743.
Eight years ago, former shearers Sherrie and Reagan Hamilton decided to rear a few calves on an ex-dairy farm they had purchased at Wakool. They started with just 10 cows.
Having some excess milk, they put in a call to Murray Goulburn, who at the time said they would pick up the milk if they had more than 500 litres.
“We decided to buy a few more cows, and then we calved down 60, and that is where it all started for us really,” Sherrie said.
Over the ensuing years, they have moved farms a couple of times and are now milking 700 cows, with a plan to hit 900 in the future. Sherrie said their progress had just evolved as they made the most of any opportunities that came their way.
“To be honest, I can’t believe where we are, and we wouldn’t have half of what we have now if we hadn’t made a start in the dairy industry, but that’s not to say it’s not stressful because it is, and it is also a lot of hard work,” Sherrie said.
The herd size soon grew to 200, and because the cows outgrew the infrastructure, they decided to buy a farm at Tullakool that had a better dairy—a 44-unit rotary.
“We then grew the herd again to around 350, and we were looking at building a feed pad, but the cost came in at around $1.5 million. So, we decided it was better value to buy another farm down the road that already had a rotary and feed pad—that was in 2021.”
“We wouldn’t have got as far as we have if we had started all this on a greenfield site,” Sherrie said.
Throughout their entire journey, they continued to supply Murray Goulburn, which later turned into Saputo after the milk price crash in 2015.
“Their growth incentive has been very good for us because we have been basically growing production every year since we started, and we haven’t had any reason to move processors,” Sherrie said.
Since purchasing the farm, the couple has put in an additional 25,000-litre vat, installed cup removers, concreted from the dairy to the feed lane, and built a 45m x 200m barn.
In the future, they hope to build a maternity barn and maybe buy some more land.
“I want a dedicated maternity area to give the girls the best possible start, and the price of land around here is reasonable, which creates an opportunity for us to expand down the track,” Sherrie said.
“If we lived in a high rainfall area, land would be way more expensive and out of our reach.”
Sherrie acknowledges the lack of rainfall is a risk, but the risk is mitigated to some degree by access to good quality bore water and irrigation. The farm also has two centre pivots, which are used to grow wheat and barley.
“As part of our risk mitigation, we like to have two years’ worth of feed ahead, and when there is affordable water and favourable conditions, we grow as much as we possibly can and store hay and silage,” Sherrie said.
For the last couple of years, cheap temporary water prices have enabled them to grow rice for additional income. They rear all of their calves and run a beef herd of about 130 to 140 head. They usually sell all their steers once they reach a certain weight.
“We have a river block where we take all the calves so they are off the home farm,” Sherrie said. The home farm is 607ha, and they also lease a further 400ha.
“To be honest, I can’t believe where we are, and we wouldn’t have half of what we have now if we hadn’t made a start in the dairy industry, but that’s not to say it’s not stressful because it is, and it is also a lot of hard work.”
SHERRIE HAMILTON
step into each other’s lanes if they have to, but Sherrie reckons it works well having their own roles.
Sherrie runs the dairy side of things, while Reagan grows the crops and does the irrigation. They can
The herd is a bit of a mixed bag, consisting of Holsteins, Jerseys, and crossbreeds. Cows are calved
every day of the year to keep a flat milk supply, and collars help with health and fertility.
“I’m not into breeding at all, and I’m not fussed where our milk comes from, as long as we get it,” Sherrie said.
“We use sexed semen, and all our cows get two goes at AI, or if they are older cows, we usually join them straight to beef. We use World Wide Sires, and they tell me what bulls we should join to, and I tell them when the semen is too expensive,” she laughed.
They breed mostly for good udders, longevity, and polled animals.
“We aim to get our cows in-calf at around 100 days.”
When it comes to getting a consistent product ready for the lamb market, there are plenty of producers, traders, and opportunistic farmers who will consider finishing lambs on grain.
This (feedlotting) can be suitable if there is reduced pasture available, prices are right, grain is available, or other factors may be at play. Before going down this path, there are many things to consider, including but not limited to:
• Facilities – Do you have appropriate places to contain stock and feed intensively, including appropriate watering and feeding facilities?
• Economics – What have the lambs cost you to date? How much are you willing to spend on this? How much time do you have for this process?
• Nutrition – What feed do you have access to? What feed can you purchase in? Do you know what the nutritional value of your feed sources is?
• Stock – What stock do you have? Are they all of a similar size, weight, and age, or are they mixed? Do you have facilities and space to separate based on weight? Do you have the time to monitor feed, water, and health?
For the process to be economically viable, you need to understand what the process entails and what the costs, both upfront and throughout, are likely to be. For ease of both management and economics, you want to be able to group stock by size and weight, understand what you
need to feed for targeted weight gain, and have an endproduct in mind. This will assist in planning your time frames, nutrition, and the cost of feeding.
Throughout the process, you will need to monitor stock to ensure weight gain is being met, poor doers are removed, health issues are rectified, and the timeline for market is not going to blow out disproportionally to the associated costs.
Appropriate facilities and time will also be big factors in the efficiency of the feedlotting process. Are you able to feed out easily and at the required frequency to maintain available access to fresh feed? Is your stock water system sufficient to provide reliable access to clean, fresh water? If you have existing facilities in place that meet the needs of your system, that is a good start. If you are starting from scratch, planning a suitable setup is essential and understanding the costs before you commence.
Ensure you check local council and EPA requirements before selecting sites and building facilities. Requirements may vary, so the Guide to Confinement Feeding Sheep and Cattle in NSW is a good resource before embarking on the process.
While these are just some of the considerations, there are plenty of resources available on both the NSW DPIRD and LLS websites. You can contact your local office to
speak to a staff member or find out more information. Murray LLS is hosting two upcoming workshops in Deniliquin and Urana on the 5th and 6th of March with Lamb Feedlotting Specialist Geoff Duddy. Scan the QR code to find out more, or contact Rebecca Stacey at rebecca.stacey@ lls.nsw.gov.au.
Contributed by Rebecca Stacey (pictured), senior local lands officer - mixed farming with Murray Local Land Services.
Do you have a pet goat? Keep a sheep as a lawnmower, or have some backyard chickens? Simple actions can help protect your animals from diseases and suffering.
Whetheryou have farmed your whole life or are brand new to owning livestock, it’s worth reviewing the potential risks on your farm. This makes it easier to work out the most effective ways to protect your animals.
The term biosecurity is used to describe all the measures you can take to prevent the spread of harmful things onto your farm, such as diseases, weeds, and pest animals. Biosecurity includes all the different actions and processes you use to keep your livestock safe.
You should consider having good biosecurity practices when you think about:
• Where you buy your animals from
• What you feed your animals
• If there is potential for wild animals and domestic animals to mix or feed together
• How you identify and move your animals from one farm to another
Each farm is unique, so this isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. There are, however, tools that can help you design a specific biosecurity plan for your place.
You can also learn more about protecting your animals at our free small and hobby farmer workshop. The workshop will be held from 10am-2pm on Saturday, 5th of April, at the Long Table Café, ‘Joy Pine’, McLaurins Road, Warragoon, NSW 2710. The workshop will cover information about identifying livestock, protecting your birds against bird flu, and what you can and can’t feed your pigs. You will also be treated to a demonstration of butter and halloumi cheese making by Kathy, owner of the Long Table Café. Morning tea and lunch are provided, so please RSVP for catering purposes.
For further information about biosecurity for small and hobby farms or the free small and hobby farm workshop, please contact your nearest Local Land Services office. Or sign up for the workshop using the QR code.
Linda Searle is a district veterinarian with Murray Local Land Services.
A more concerted effort to protect cotton from spray drift is being championed by Nutrien Ag Solutions Deniliquin and Finley.
Deniliquin branch manager Matt Tubb and Finley branch manager Stacey Doolan recently joined forces to host a spray drift forum in Deniliquin. Special guests included Cotton Australia’s regional manager for Southern NSW, Tom Mannes, and Scott Kidd from the NSW Environment Protection Authority. Farmers, retailers, and private consultants were all invited. The focus of the meeting was on the impact chemical drift can have on neighbouring crops, particularly cotton. The forum discussed the need for more conversation and regulation, with spray drift having the potential to cause tens of millions of dollars worth of damage.
Nutrien Deniliquin agronomist David Toohey said there have been local examples of cotton plants affected by 2,4-D spray drift.
“The issue is how people are using herbicide – the time they are applying it, how it is being applied, and the conditions at the time.”
Information provided by Cotton Australia highlighted that “off-target movement” of agricultural chemicals can impact farmers across all commodities, but it said cotton is particularly susceptible to damage.
“The greatest impact of spray drift for cotton is the effect of the herbicide 2,4-D,” a spokesperson said. “Cotton is particularly sensitive to minute amounts of exposure to 2,4-D, and every summer growers see varying degrees of damage caused by off-target movement of this product.
“The 2,4-D label requires application using very strict parameters, including spray droplets that are not smaller than very coarse size. It must also never be applied when hazardous surface temperature inversions are present.
“Cotton that has been exposed to minor 2,4-D drift may recover and suffer no yield effect, but severe cases can lead to up to 50 per cent yield reduction. This leads to significant financial losses for farmers and is frustrating for them because it is always avoidable.”
The cotton industry has taken a proactive stance over many years to equip farmers and contractors with the knowledge of ways they can minimise the risks associated with spray application. Cotton Australia has worked in collaboration with other industry bodies such as the Cotton Research and Development Corporation,
“Cotton is particularly sensitive to minute amounts of exposure to 2,4-D, and every summer growers see varying degrees of damage caused by off-target movement of this product.”
COTTON AUSTRALIA
the New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency, Biosecurity Queensland, APVMA, and local community groups such as SOS (Stop Off-target Spraydrift).
“This has resulted in more resources being available than ever before,” the spokesperson said.
“The WAND Tower network is a vital resource which growers can use to determine when the right time is to spray. SataMap is also available, which allows growers to map their various crops to inform others about the location of sensitive crops. The Snap Send Solve app makes it easy for growers to report cases of crop damage, and extensive training programs have been run to educate spray operators about the spray parameters they should be using and the appropriate conditions to ensure that the spray gets to the target and doesn’t go over the fence.”
“All growers should make use of the resources available to assist them to make the right decisions with spray application. They should ensure that their staff are trained in spray application, and they should ensure that they also have good awareness of the right conditions for spraying.
“They should talk to their neighbours and attend grower meetings to ensure that there is good communication about each other’s activities in their district. If they are unsure about where to start, they should reach out to their local Cotton Australia regional manager for assistance.”
Riverina Sustainable recently held an information night in Deniliquin to update irrigators and the community on the Land and Water Management Plan (LWMP).
Scrapers: Caterpillar 623G, 623B, and 2 x 623F
Excavator: 1 x Komatsu PC200-8, 1 x Hidromek 310LC, 1 x Hidromek 230LC
Longreaches: Komatsu 300-8, 18m Boom & Komatsu 220-5, 14m Boom
Graders: Caterpillar 160M AWD, 2 x Caterpillar 140H
Bulldozers: Caterpillar D7H & Caterpillar D6T with Rake
Tractors: Steiger 450 With Laser Buckets - 14 & 16. Case
IH Steiger 535 & 600
Loaders: Cat IT 28B Cat 960F
Low Loaders: 2015 Quad Axel (with Tandem Dolly), SES Tri-Axel
Water Tanker: 45,000 Litres
Roller: Dynapac CA602D (smooth drum & pad foot)
The LWMP 2022 was established after funds held by MIL were rightfully returned to landholders via NSW Supreme Court advice last year.
The funds have been invested in a managed fund, and it is the intention to use part of the interest generated each year to fund appropriate projects.
According to the LWMP 2022, project proposals must fall under one or more of the three pillars of advocacy, education, and research and development, and must benefit irrigated properties in the NSW Murray Irrigation area and dryland properties that retain a water use licence.
The amount of funds approved annually will vary, depending on investment performance and the suitability of applications.
Trustees Peter Mogg, Tim Horne, and Waander Van Beek were in attendance, along with the LAC. Attendees were informed that any project proposals must be presented via one of the five Landholder Associations (LHA) – Deniboota, Wakool, BIC, West Berriquin, or Denimein. These will be discussed at the LHA level, and if they meet the criteria, they will be forwarded to the Landholder Association Council (LAC) for consideration.
The LAC is made up of one representative from each LHA. The LAC will discuss the projects and allocate funding based on the merit of each project and its proposed outcomes. All projects are overseen by the trustee to ensure they meet the guidelines of the LWMP 2022.
General information and expressions of interest forms are available on the website www. lwmp.com.au
Trustee Peter Mogg said the LWMP is a wonderful legacy for irrigators in the Southern Riverina community.
“Our website is up and running, and I urge anyone interested in applying for a project to jump on the site and have a look. We are looking forward to getting our first round of funding out to the public over the next few months.”
Riverina Sustainable funds are a legacy left over from the original LWMP, which commenced in 1991 and finished in 2010. At the time, the LWMP was considered the gold standard for community engagement in land and water practices, with landholders within the MIL footprint, along with state and federal governments, all contributing equal amounts of money to address issues of the time that had the potential to impact the future profitability and sustainability of the region.
Any questions can be directed to office@lwmp.com.au
Based on the February insights report, Rural Bank experts say the world is waiting to see what happens to the wool market amidst tariff negotiations between the US and China.
“A trade war between China and the US has the potential to seriously impact the Chinese economy, which would limit upside in wool prices in 2025,” said Bendigo Bank agricultural analyst Joe Boyle.
Mr Boyle said the Australian wool market had firmed at the start of 2025, with prices adjusting to the weaker Australian dollar.
The AWEX EMI was up 61 cents (at the time of reporting) since the Christmas recess.
“Prices are forecast to be relatively steady, with participants expected to take a cautious approach in the current trade environment,” Mr Boyle said.
“The weaker Australian dollar has been the main supporter of the market.
“The fine micron wools have all firmed since the recess, although to a lesser extent than the broader Merino fleece types and the crossbred wools.”
He also said the Australian lamb market was expected to be relatively steady in February.
“The market will gain support from continued high processing rates, although strong supply of lambs and dry conditions in key growing areas will limit upside.”
Lamb prices have eased to start 2025 after peaking just prior to the Christmas break. The National Trade Lamb Indicator (NTLI) reached above 900 c/kg in December but has eased back to around 770 c/kg. Even so, the NTLI remains 1.2 per cent higher than the five-year average.
“Processing rates have continued at heightened levels in 2025. Sheep and lamb processing rates took only two full processing weeks to climb back above the 700 thousand head combined slaughter mark. There were reports that processors were well booked out in January, which has seen some weakness in prices.
“Mutton markets started 2025 with a bang but have since dropped to below pre-Christmas levels, to around 370 c/kg. This marks a 21.8 per cent increase year-on-year but still trails 20.3 per cent below the five-year average.”
Fello analyst Rod Baker said he expects export demand for Australian wheat to pick up.
“Competitive Australian pricing, tightening global wheat stocks and renewed buying interest from key markets will drive stronger trade flows in the coming months,” Mr Baker said.
The 2024/25 winter crop harvest is complete, with a final production total of 57.7 million tonnes, which was higher than expected. Jointly, Western Australia and NSW accounted for 71 per cent of total production.
Big drops in production were seen in South Australia and Victoria, which is at its lowest since the 2018/19 drought.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Finley is committed to servicing Finley and its surrounding towns. The team specialises in all aspects of the farming sector, with many years of accumulated knowledge in agronomy, fertiliser, livestock, animal health, insurance, and finance.
Operating from the Finley branch are branch manager and senior agronomist Stacey Doolan, and fellow senior agronomist Hayden Lunn. Manager of merchandise and fertiliser is Doug McLean, commercial and sales manager is Shania Bentley, Matt Howe is the storeman and delivery driver, and Michael Archer provides livestock and merchandise support.
Finley district farmers also have access to livestock agent Marc Braybon, who is based in Deniliquin and is across developments in the livestock supply chain and production that will deliver more value to all customers. Recently joining the team, as Nutrien grows, is trainee livestock agent Siale Pitson.
“Together we strive to keep up to date with the market in fertiliser, seed, chemical, and livestock trends,” Ms Doolan said.
“Our product knowledge is rigorous, and we implement new agricultural practices in our region.
“An example of this is the introduction of industrial hemp to our region this summer, to complement our other broad range of summer crops.
“Industrial hemp is set to become an expanding industry with many benefits in terms of low water usage and pesticide use.”
Nutrien Finley staff are also continuing to plan for winter programs, with pasture well underway. They are currently stocked with a wide range of pasture seeds to suit all livestock enterprises.
The majority of soil testing has been completed in conjunction with its Echelon team to develop variable rate lime/gypsum and starter fertiliser via grid testing and precision plans. Clients are proactively ordering their starter fertiliser to take advantage of good pricing and guaranteed supply.
Now is also the perfect time to assess and manage livestock requirements and your overall farm enterprise
needs. This time of year, clients take advantage of their livestock programs that can be organised by the team, so key timings of products are administered.
Nutrien Finley offers an Autumn Advantage Program, which gives you the ability to stock your shed now and receive extended payment terms on a great range of animal health products.
Now is also the time to start thinking about crop insurance. Leah Mulcahy visits the area frequently for face-to-face interaction. She specialises in all aspects of insurance, including farm, crop, business, home, and car.
For a competitive quote on quality insurance, phone (03) 5883 1733 or drop in to Nutrien Finley on the Riverina Highway at Finley.
Have you ever heard of a persimmon? If the answer is ‘No’, then you’re not alone.
According to Barooga farmer and Chair of Persimmons Australia, Chris Stillard, less than 10 per cent of Australians are aware of this ancient tree fruit originating from China and hugely popular in Asia. He believes there is potential for growth in the sector, particularly on the domestic front, and says the industry is working hard to boost the profile of this exotic fruit, which appears in Australian supermarkets each year between February and June.
“If we can educate the other 90 per cent of Australians about the product, then we should see more expansion,” he said. “As Chair of Persimmons Australia, our interest is in marketing and
research. Of course, we’d love to spend huge money on marketing, but because it’s such a small industry, it’s hard to recoup the levies to be able to run a serious campaign.”
Persimmons are predominantly grown in China, Japan, South Korea, and Spain. Shaped like a tomato with a nutty, honey-like flavour, they were initially introduced to our shores by Chinese immigrants who arrived during the mid-19th century in search of their fortunes on the goldfields.
They have been grown commercially in Australia since the mid-1980s, with the emergence of non-astringent varieties such as Fuyu, Jiro, Izu, and Suruga. These sweet modern varieties, which account for 90 per cent of Australia’s production, can be eaten when crisp and crunchy. By contrast, the traditional astringent type of persimmon – commonly found growing in Australian backyards – needs to be extremely ripe and soft before they can be enjoyed; otherwise, they can taste bitter.
According to Chris, persimmons are at their best when eaten like an apple, “straight off the tree.”
“But they are also really good sliced and served on a biscuit with cheese,” he said. “The cheese really brings the flavour out of the persimmons.”
Even better when paired with a “cheeky red wine,” he suggests. A Riverina-produced red, of course!
What’s more, persimmons pack a punch on a nutritional level, containing higher levels of antioxidants such as Vitamins A and C than other more popular fruits, even oranges. They are also rich in dietary fibre and contain virtually no fat. Not a bad wrap for this inconspicuous member of the pome fruit family (apples and pears are the most prominent pome fruit examples).
There are roughly 80 commercial persimmon growers in Australia, with operations that range in size from 200 to 30,000 trees. Currently, the industry produces approximately 3,200 tonnes of fruit per annum. The bulk of this crop is sold on the domestic market, with around 170 tonnes exported to South East Asia.
The fruit is grown in multiple regions of Australia, as far north as the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, through southern New South Wales, northern Victoria, and South Australia. Chris believes the Southern Riverina is idyllic for cultivating these glowing orange autumn fruits.
“We have a temperate climate here, which is perfect for growing persimmons,” he said. “We get frosts, and we also have a dry heat, not a humid heat. The more humid it gets, the more fungicide treatments you’ve got to apply. And the fruit does get a cold set here over the winter. While not necessarily required, persimmons do like a bit of cold set.”
(Cold set, also known as ‘chill hours’, are the number of cold hours or days that fruit-bearing trees require each season for flowering and fruit production.)
The Stillard family first settled in the Barooga area in 1904, when Chris’s great-great-grandfather, John, purchased a 180-hectare landholding to produce livestock and grain. He named the property ‘Marboc’ (which, in reverse, spells Cobram).
In an interesting historical aside, John was the first residential policeman in Cobram. Even more fascinating is that, as a young constable, he was involved in the capture of the Kelly Gang at Glenrowan in 1880 while
stationed at the time at Benalla. He used a small portion of the reward he received for his part in the infamous last stand to purchase the Barooga farm.
In the years prior to the construction of the irrigation network that today supports farming in the region, John would pump water directly from the Murray River to irrigate feed for his sheep. Since these early beginnings, successive generations of the Stillard family have continued to farm and thrive in the Barooga area. Chris is a member of the fifth generation. And he and wife Belinda have the future of the sixth very much at front of mind, with their three children eager to preserve the family’s long-running farming legacy. Eldest daughter, Isobella, and teenage son, Sam, have in particular inherited the family’s farming genes, while the couple’s other daughter, Grace, harbours ambitions outside of agriculture!
The family’s business, Stillard Farms, incorporates ‘Marboc’, and the neighbouring 140-hectare farm, ‘Fredrena’ (which combines the names of Chris’s greatgrandfather Fred and great-grandmother Rena). The mixed farming enterprise cultivates hay (100 hectares) and winter cereals (100 hectares), a portion of which is grown over subsurface irrigation.
But it is the 15-hectare persimmon operation that accounts for 60 per cent of the business. The orchard comprises 7,000 trees, each watered by its own minisprinkler. The plantings are an equal mix of the two
“If we can educate the other 90 per cent of Australians about the product, then we should see more expansion.”
CHRIS STILLARD
main sweet varieties, Jiro and Fuyu, which produce 17 tonnes per hectare on average each season (this can run as high as 40 tonnes per hectare in an exceptional year). Chris estimates water usage is between six and seven megalitres per hectare.
“I’ve reduced that again because I heavily mulch my trees,” he said. “I put about 20 to 30 tonnes of dry matter (straw and hay) a hectare under the trees every year and it just rots, and the microbes do their thing in the ground. It’s extra effort and extra mucking around, but my soils are improving because of it, and I’m using less water – at least 20 per cent less. We’ve got fairly sodic soils, which means when they go dry, the water doesn’t quite penetrate. But because I’ve got good organic matter going under my trees, it’s utilising rainfall and irrigation water better, instead of running off. I’m pretty sure that
my carbon build-up under those trees is also slightly increasing because of the mulch.”
The persimmon harvest takes place between May and June each year. The fruit is hand-picked into buckets and delivered to the family’s on-farm packing shed where, in a sea of orange, it is graded, packed into boxes, and stickered with the business’s Gold Dragon Sweet Persimmons label. Trucks arrive daily throughout this period to transport the freshly picked produce direct to the Sydney wholesale market. From here, it is distributed to supermarkets across New South Wales and Victoria. A small quantity is also exported to Malaysia and Singapore.
“We’ve got huge scope for growing horticulture in our footprint, it’s just that we haven’t fully realised it yet.”
CHRIS STILLARD
It is Chris’s uncle, Bruce Stillard, who established the persimmon orchard at ‘Marboc’ in 1990, with an initial planting of 500 trees. But it could very easily have been pistachios, as Chris explains:
“Bruce knew the soils here were better for just growing sheep, wheat, and lucerne,” he said. “So, he looked into growing some sort of horticultural tree crop and, through his research, it came down to a choice between persimmons and pistachios. Persimmons ended up being his pick of the two.”
“And I’m glad he didn’t grow pistachios because all he would have done would be feed the corellas and the cockies!”
Chris, who had previously been growing tomatoes locally with his father Max, began leasing part of ‘Marboc’ in 2000 to cultivate lucerne hay for stockfeed while also supporting his uncle’s work in the orchard.
“After two years of leasing the place, Bruce wanted to start slowing down and asked me if I wanted to lease the orchard as well?” Chris said. “I really like horticulture, so I said okay.”
By this time, there were 1,500 trees in the ground. That number has since expanded to 7,000.
Potential
Chris has been a long-time advocate for horticulture and for Australian agriculture in general, through his involvement with Persimmons Australia, NSW Farmers, and other related industry bodies. With cultivation of horticulture crops on the rise in the local region, he believes the Southern Riverina has vast potential as a major horticultural production base.
“We’ve got huge scope for growing horticulture in our footprint, it’s just that we haven’t fully realised it yet,” he said. “Sometimes it takes a push and a shove to try growing something different from the traditional grain crops. Our soils here are underrated in our area, in my opinion. And with our close proximity to Sydney and Melbourne, as well as our water reliability and the services attached to it, we could – we should – be an export powerhouse.”
Buoyed by this confidence in the region’s rich capacity to produce, the Stillards are currently embarking on a new phase of expansion, with the intention to grow more horticulture under advanced irrigation techniques. This includes trialling non-mainstream tree fruits such as loquats and feijoas.
“Both crops are ideal for growing in this area and not many people know about them,” Chris said. “There are lots of different horticultural options out there that are perfect for our area. People just need to do their research and give them a try.”
If you’d like to explore the Stillard’s persimmon operation further, it was recently featured on Thanh ‘The Fruit Nerd’ Truong’s SBS food series, Field to Feast. This episode can be currently viewed on SBS On Demand.
FARMtalk welcomes community contributions from farmers, experts and professionals who make their living and life on the land. If you would like to contribute, there are several ways to do so.
• Get in touch and give us a tip of a great story idea.
• Contribute an article: If you are an expert in your field then contributing once off, or regularly, is a great way to get started in our FARMtalk magazine. Contact Zoe McMaugh at farmtalk@ denipt.com.au or 03 5881 2322.
• Become an author: FARMtalk is open to occasional contributors who are experts in their field or authorities on a subject or area. Once you have contributed an article, and the editorial team have approved you, we can set you up with a regular column to contribute. We would love to hear from you. Contact Zoe McMaugh at farmtalk@ denipt.com.au or 03 5881 2322.
• Have a fascinating farm in mind for us to showcase? Tell us! We would love to hear from you. Contact Zoe McMaugh at farmtalk@ denipt.com.au or 03 5881 2322.
Women with leadership ambitions are urged to apply to the popular Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program (DiALP).
The initiative is run by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and is now entering its eighth year. NFF president David Jochinke said more women are needed in the top echelons of agricultural organisations and businesses.
“The NFF has set a goal to double the number of women in leadership ranks by 2030 in the ag sector,” Mr Jochinke said. “This fantastic program enables women to elevate their careers, expand their networks, and drive meaningful change in agriculture.”
Twelve women will be selected for the 2025 program. The 2025 cohort will take part in a three-day leadership retreat in Canberra, be matched with an industry-leading mentor, and work towards personal and professional goals under the guidance of the DiALP team.
The Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program is made possible thanks to the support of dozens of corporate partners.
Applications opened on February 24 and are open for one month.
For more information, visit https://nff.org.au/programs/diversity-in-agriculture-leadership/.
