Andrew and Brenda began to grow crops on their 10,000-hectare cattle property almost ten years ago.
The property, 40kms north-west of Tambo, is separated from the cropping lands of Central Qld to the east (where many farmers grow grains for Kialla) by the Carnarvon Ranges. On the western side of the ranges most of the agriculture is devoted to cattle and sheep, and it’s unusual to find crops, yet Andrew reckons there’s about a million hectares in the surrounding area that has potential for cropping.
The family bought the farm in 2010 primarily for breeding Angus cattle. It has a mix of soil types from gidgee scrub to shaded downs and black soil; and having grown up on a farm near Dysart within the CQ cropping region, Andrew recognised the potential in the black soil. A form of ‘cracking clay’ it’s prized across the Darling Downs and Central Queensland for growing crops due to its fertility and ability to hold water.
Brenda also comes from a farming background, having grown up in Dalby on the Darling Downs where her uncle has a farm. So, in 2016, they applied their farming knowledge and cropping experience to planting forage oats and sorghum to feed their cattle.
After good rainfall in 2021 they decided to take a punt with planting their first commercial wheat crop. Around this time someone suggested that, since they hadn’t used any sprays or fertilisers, they should apply for Certified Organic status. The process of converting to organic status involves a 3-year audit of soils and crops by an independent organic certifier, and Kialla has decided to mill Andrew and Brenda’s ‘In-Conversion’ crop into our new Sustainable Flour line.
The end of 2025 saw their 4th wheat crop harvested, and moving forward all future crops will have full certified organic status.
In terms of maintaining soil health and fertility over the long term, they use techniques such as rotating wheat with forage crops, and grazing fallow paddocks for the natural cattle manure and soil conditioning that livestock provides.
Andrew has also applied WormGro, a microbial formulation that helps convert atmospheric nitrogen into a natural plant-food. Many organic farmers are now turning to microbial fertilisers that replace synthetic inputs through supporting the soil microbiome. This not only enhances soil fertility but also naturally builds plant health and resilience.
They have four adult daughters, and with one of girls coming home in the new year to work with them there’s an opportunity for the family to continue farming sustainably and organically well into the future.