A grain bunker builds on Sandholes Farming at Inglestone. Photo: LAWD

MUNGINDI producers Rob and Sally Houston have listed their Western Downs cropping and grazing aggregation in southern Queensland’s feedlot corridor.

Held by the family since 2014, the couple runs Sandholes Farming, which focuses on dryland cotton and sorghum production, alongside Brangus cattle breeding near the Qld-New South Wales border.

The 6445ha Inglestone Aggregation is located 15km south-west of Inglestone, 140km from Goondiwindi and 220km from Roma.

The aggregation is close to major grain and livestock markets, including feedlots between Condamine and Dalby and surrounds, the Dalby and Roma saleyards, and grain-receival sites at Meandarra, The Gums, Miles, Toobeah and Goondiwindi.

It comprises three holdings – the adjoining 2557ha Warooka and 1777ha Woodville and the 2111ha White Hut, which is 7km away.

LAWD national director Tim McKinnon said the three assets work well together while also offering distinct entry points for different buyer groups.

“Warooka provides the scale and operational base, Woodville brings a highly developed cropping profile and White Hut offers an even balance of cultivation and grazing, with water security and future land-use flexibility,” Mr McKinnon said.

Mr McKinnon said the location, combined with 9000 tonnes of grain storage, gives the aggregation a competitive advantage in supplying grain directly to the lot feeding sector.

“Over the past 12 years of ownership, the vendor has produced 11 high-quality crops, positioning Inglestone as a highly consistent performer in a reliable rainfall area.”

“While extensive development has already been undertaken, only 50 percent of White Hut is currently arable, creating an opportunity to transition more country from grazing to cropping.”

Improvements on Sandholes Farming’s Warooka vertical grain storage. Photo: LAWD

Mr McKinnon said the aggregation’s location and flexibility are expected to attract a broad buyer pool.

“The market in Queensland has remained strong compared with southern states due to positive seasonal conditions and commodity prices.

“Significant interest is anticipated from neighbours, large-scale family farming businesses and corporate investors.”

The open farming country is underpinned by chocolate to grey self-mulching cracking clays, with areas of red soils.

Around 4573ha, or 71pc, has been extensively developed for dryland cropping, supporting consistent yields across winter rotations of wheat, barley and chickpeas, complemented by summer sorghum.

Over the past 12 months, the vendors have undertaken contour bank development and completed LiDAR surveying across the aggregation.

A further 1872ha is used for grazing, supporting 580 adult equivalents, or one per 3.3ha.

That capacity may be further enhanced through targeted increases in fodder production.

Water is supplied by a network of 24 dams, supported by an equipped and reticulated sub-artesian bore on White Hut, in a 578mm average annual rainfall region.

The Inglestone Aggregation is being offered for sale as a whole or as separate assets by expressions of interest closing August 27.

Three holdings, multiple pathways

Warooka

At 2557ha, Warooka is the largest of the three holdings and carries a significant share of the aggregation’s operational infrastructure.

It includes 2018ha of cultivation and 540ha of grazing and native vegetation, along with a four-bedroom home, guest and staff quarters, numerous sheds, steel cattle yards and substantial grain storage.

Woodville

Woodville has around 1516ha developed to cropping and 262ha set aside for grazing. The 1777ha property includes near-new exclusion fencing and a recently renovated four-bedroom residence.

White Hut

For buyers seeking cultivation and livestock flexibility, the 2111ha White Hut offers a near-even split between cropping at 1040ha and grazing at 1071ha.

A significant proportion of the grazing country is considered to have arable development potential, providing scope for future land-use flexibility.

Infrastructure includes steel cattle yards, 6km of near-new exclusion fencing and a four-bedroom home.

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