Sorghum maturing in north-west Queensland. Photo: Angus Dalgliesh

AFTER a disappointing season impacted by a rat plague, the emerging grain industry in north-west Queensland is enjoying a more promising run, with chickpea planting nearly complete and sorghum crops approaching harvest.

Grower confidence is set to be further bolstered, with the construction of a common-use grain handling facility at Maxwelton designed to support accumulation and exports through the Port of Townsville.

The Maxwelton facility is being developed by Richmond Shire Council, which is also leading the Maxwelton Common Farming.

Local business Maxwelton Feed & Grain was awarded the contract for the project and also operates the region’s only up-country grain storage facility.

Richmond Shire mayor John Wharton said 1400ha of chickpeas had recently been sown on the Maxwelton town common, marking the first crop planted under the new project.

“The area we have targeted, the Maxwelton Town Common, has very good deep black soil, self-cracking clay soils,” Mr Wharton said.

He said hopes for the crop were high, with excellent soil moisture setting it up for a promising season.

“We’ve had a very good wet season over the farming area, and we’ve protected the moisture.”

After a plague chewing through grain and forage crops last year, he said there had been no reports of rats this season.

“We might get a rat plague every 12 or 15 years.

“We haven’t had any indication of any rats this year; we think they’re gone for a few years.”

Cr Wharton said he was confident chickpeas were a good agronomic fit for the region.

Chickpeas, sorghum flourishing

The well-timed wet season has set up chickpea and sorghum crops across the north-west.

Grain Central understands there has been strong interest in growing chickpeas this season, including from cattle backgrounding and feedlotting company Australian Agricultural Company which operates two properties in the region.

Elders agronomist based at Charters Towers, Katelin Reddacliff, said chickpea crops were just starting to emerge.

“I’ve got some that’s just gone in and popping it’s head out of the ground now and looking good so far,” Ms Reddacliff said.

After completing six years as an agronomist in Mackay, Ms Reddacliff has been providing advice to North Qld growers for around nine months.

“This is my first season doing agronomy in this area and I’ve started on a high by the sounds of it.

“It’s been a good season up there for rain.”

Chickpea planting is almost completed in north-west Queensland. Photo: Angus Dalgliesh

She said there were no notable pest or disease issues, with no reports of rat infestations or damage.

She said the chickpea crops were on track to be harvested in August.

“It’s all shaping up alright.

“They’ve had the moisture there to start it and it should hopefully carry through.

“If they could jag a shower in between, that wouldn’t be too bad.”

Ms Reddacliff said sorghum crops were progressing well, with most planted in January-February.

“The forage sorghum is all being grazed…and then there is some grain sorghum that’s just about to be harvested.”

Grain storage progress

In July last year, the Richmond Shire Council received a $2-million grant from the Qld Government to construct a common-use grain facility at Maxwelton to support the growth of the grains industry in the region.

The facility is currently under construction north of the Townsville-Mount Isa railway line, adjacent to the new cattle loading yards.

When completed, the facility will have rail access to the Port of Townsville, as well as road access via the Flinders Highway.

Cr Wharton said construction of the facility was held up due to late rain, but works were now “rolling along” at the site.

“We’re into it now; getting the pad done and, once it’s done, the silos should start turning up.

“We’re hoping to have it done by the end of June or early July.”

He said, while it “may not be ready for a fair bit of the grain that’s going to come off here”, the facility will provide a long-term solution to the lack of grain handling sites in the region.

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