Yarranvale features 7531ML of permanent entitlements and 8.5km of Wakool River frontage. Photo: Elders

MORE than $40 million is anticipated for the May family’s premium dryland cropping and irrigation asset in the southern Riverina region of New South Wales.

Close to grain receival sites at Moulamein, Burraboi, Barham and Deniliquin, the 5574ha Yarranvale Aggregation is in the highly regarded Wakool irrigation district, 25km north of Barham and 50km south of Moulamein.

It comprises seven adjoining holdings – 1804ha The Plains, 413ha Barhamin, 644ha Steilston, 437ha Lolicatos, 449ha Storms, 814ha Yarranvale and 1011ha Glenhuntly – that have been aggregated, developed and managed by the May family over four generations.

The portfolio is being offered to the market via expressions of interest by brothers Geoff and David May, and their wives, Sally and Robyn, after more than half a century in the family’s hands.

Elders agent Matt Horne said the Yarranvale Aggregation offers scale, secure water, extensive river frontage and long-term capital growth potential.

“The fully developed operating platform has efficient field layouts, established irrigation infrastructure, all-weather internal access and supporting improvements that drive operational and water-use efficiency and overall productivity.”

Mr Horne said the turnkey agricultural asset is likely to attract widespread inquiry.

“Available as a whole or in selected combinations, on a bare or walk-in, walk-out basis, Yarranvale is suited to institutional investors, established family farming operations pursuing scale, and corporate buyers seeking exposure to long-life Australian irrigated cropping assets.”

The aggregation has been extensively developed to support winter crops, including wheat, barley and canola, while also offering the capability and versatility to produce summer crops such as rice, cotton or corn – subject to seasonal conditions and water availability.

Last year’s cropping program comprised 442ha of wheat, 933ha of barley and 374ha of canola.

In addition, The Plains was leased and planted to 1291ha of crops.

With long-term soil amelioration (around 2000t of gypsum applied per annum), cereal yields on the Yarranvale Aggregation consistently achieve 7-8t/ha under sprinklers.

Historically, the Yarranvale Aggregation has operated as a mixed-farming enterprise, running 3000-4000 Merino ewes alongside the cropping program.

The aggregation’s infrastructure includes four recently developed lateral-move irrigators across 805ha, 645ha of laser-levelled border-check irrigation, and 1356ha of laser-levelled contour irrigation, supported by 600ML of on-farm re-use storage.

Mr Horne said identified potential upside for pressurised irrigation at around 1344ha, comprising 144ha under centre pivot and 1200ha of lateral move.

Water is secured by 7531ML of permanent entitlements, 8.5km of Wakool River frontage and access to the Southern Branch Canal.

Infrastructure includes more than 15,000 tonnes of on-farm grain storage, anchored by a fit-for-purpose 15,000t bunker site, plus two 700t aerated silos.

The Yarranvale Aggregation is for sale by expression of interest closing on July 14.

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