The listed Gurrady Farms has 6000ha of wheat in the ground this year. Photo: Nutrien Harcourts

THE MARKET for large-scale and low-input cropping is set to be tested by Gurrady Farms at Yuna on the northern fringe of Western Australia’s grainbelt.

Being offered for sale through Nutrien Real Estate agents Ben and Daniel Lloyd-Smith, the 8601-hectare family farm is located 80 kilometres north-east of Geraldton, and  has around 6000ha of wheat in the ground.

Gurrady Farm’s annual average rainfall is 280 millimetres, and the district is currently enjoying a good growing season, with 38mm falling over the weekend.

Its soil types include mostly heavier sandplain and red loam, with around 150ha of light sand, and its average wheat yield is 2.5-3t/ha, with 3.5-4t/ha recorded after fallow years, and in ideal growing seasons.

“We’ve had everyone from neighbouring farmers to corporate and internationals express interest on the property, and the bulk of interest is coming from WA,” Daniel said.

“We’re seeing a large movement of farmers coming up from south, where land is much more expensive.”

“People are looking at that better return on investment, and wanting to get somewhere a bit further north with consistent rainfall.”

Soil, farm improvements

The Gurrady Farms aggregation has been put together by the owners over the past 50 years, and are now looking to make a lifestyle change.

They have deep ripped sandplain country and undertaken a liming program in recent years on top of the normal fertiliser program.

The family has grown lupins as their main rotation crop, but the late break meant 2000ha of their 8000ha arable area has been fallowed this year.

Around 70 per cent of Gurrady Farms was fallowed last year, and fallowing forms an important part of the rotation.

Ben said part of Gurrady Farms’ appeal is its proximity to the local CBH site.

“The farm envelops the CBH bin at Yuna, and they can also cart grain from the paddock straight to the port of Geraldton,” he said.

“They’ve gravelled 95pc of their roads on the farm, which means they can get trucks in and out when a lot of others can’t.”

Gurrady Farms has numerous sheds, 24 silos, five dams and six bores, and six dwellings which provide a range of accommodation for families and staff.

Ben said terms of the sale are negotiable, and could cover a walk-in-walk-out deal, or a bare sale if the new owner does not require plant and equipment.

The vendors are expecting to harvest their last wheat crop on Gurrady Farms before handing over to the new owners.

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