Update from the Farms

Off the back of the record breaking spring rainfall, both farms already had saturated soil profiles moving into the summer months – but the rain just kept coming! This eased slightly in February allowing pastures to begin drying out and generating vast quantities of quality feed for our growing mob of cows and calves. The sunshine was short lived though, with March bringing torrential rain and flooding, helping set a record 12 month, rolling rainfall for the farm of 1,371 mm.

Despite setbacks from the weather and pandemic, the farm team has shown great resolve in pressing forward with redeveloping ‘Duralla’. Upgrading the egg packing facility and workshop area began in February with bulk earthworks and a concrete pour, before more inclement weather halted works in early March. Over the next month, an additional slab will be poured for the packing room extension and brood shed upgrade. A massive thanks to the farm team who are cracking on with their day-to-day work despite challenging weather conditions and construction work going on around them.

Summer was also a busy time readying the farms to once again host guests and event from 2022 onwards. After a lengthy pause during the pandemic, we are very excited to be opening the Home Farm up again for events of all shapes and sizes. For more details please visit the MCNF website’s events page.

On the livestock side of things we look forward to welcoming a new flock of chickens and additional breeding stock to our mobs of angus cattle as we move into autumn. We will also be busily maintaining existing infrastructure at the Home Farm, with the option of adding a sheep enterprise in late 2022.  

After a few early setbacks and with La Nina forecast to loosen her grip on the farm in the coming months, 2022 is poised to be a big year of growth for the farm. We look forward to seeing you out here soon.

Wedding reception venue at the ‘Barn’ on the Home Farm.