A HIGHLY developed and diverse irrigation holding has hit the market with the listing of the Sunland Agriculture Aggregation at Hillston in southern New South Wales.
Being offered by Tim and Sally Watson through an Elders Riverina expressions-of-interest campaign, the aggregation covers 1747 hectares and features more than 20 kilometres of frontage to the Lachlan River.
Combined bore and river allocations put its annual water entitlements at 14,849 megalitres, which have enabled Sunland to grow vegetables as well as cotton, grains and oilseeds.
It has been a supplier of Edgell parent Simplot since 2011, and in recent years has supplied up to 70 per cent of the sweetcorn processed at Bathurst and up to 100pc of the beetroot processed at Echuca.
The Watsons bought Morants as their foundation property in 2000, and added Lanes Bridge in 2001 and Glenmore in 2005.
The Watsons won the coveted national Cotton Grower of the Year award in 2014, when they achieved an average cotton yield of 12.2 bales/ha, and 14 bales in their highest-yielding field.
Mr Watson is currently the chairman of Namoi Cotton.
Sunland Agriculture includes 987ha developed for both spray irrigation and row cropping, which is serviced by four high-volume proven bores and three separate river pumps.
The aggregation includes state-of-the-art irrigation infrastructure and technology which includes full automation allowing simple operation and repeatability.
Coupled with the security which comes with its groundwater allocation, Sunland management has identified a further 830ha as suitable for permanent plantings including almonds, walnuts, winegrapes, citrus and stonefruit.
Members of the current management and operations team have indicated a willingness to stay on under the new owner.
Improvements include a modern homestead and office, multiple sheds, workers’ accommodation, and 3065 tonnes of grain storage.
Sunland Agriculture is being offered as whole or in part, and EOI closes July 14.
Source: Elders, FTI Consulting
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