Posted by on
28/07/2023
Mel Haylock and Lee White
The unique opportunity to set foot onto a large-scale Top End working beef operation is an iconic rural experience, albeit one not widely accessible for most.
The sheer size, geography, management and diversification of some of Australia’s leading northern beef enterprises is a marvel, and participants on Rabobank’s Northern Territory Beef Tour recently enjoyed a glimpse first-hand.
Over seven days, 28 clients and six staff travelled from Alice Springs to Darwin, visiting some of Australia’s most significant properties, including Undoolya Station, Pine Hill Station, Newcastle Waters, Sturt Plains and Hayfield Station, Lakefield Station, Tipperary Station and Bridge Creek Station.
Mel and George Haylock took part in the tour, which Mel described as “simply incredible”.
Merino producers from Cooma, NSW, The Haylocks' curiosity reflects that of the nation, with the interest surrounding the northern industry transcending commodities and regions.
“To have the opportunity to visit a Northern Territory enterprise of any scale is not one you come across often, and we immediately knew this tour would be a great opportunity to get away, see another part of Australia and have rare access to some great farms and networks.”
While the Haylocks also run an Angus beef enterprise on their property “Old Springfield” and laugh that it’s a far cry from the operations they visited, the couple gained enormous value from the tour, particularly from the networking and knowledge sharing opportunity.
“We were travelling with cattle farmers from four different states, and a variety of industries,” Mel explained. “It didn’t take long to realise that everyone on that bus had the same business drivers as us.”
“Tours like this enable shared experiences with other farmers, and this really champions our commonality and helps reinforce or question what we’ve been doing on-farm – from diversification, best practice, labour, innovation and challenges – it’s such a unique opportunity to learn and see our business through other people’s minds.”
Queensland Western Downs beef producer Tom Hartley was also on the tour, and agreed that there was real value in the company kept.
“I very much enjoyed spending time with the group on the bus, and there was so much I could learn from this likeminded group – why do they produce a certain article? How do others producing the same article as us do it differently?”
Tom, Krystle and Sandra Hartley
Both Mel and Tom agreed that this was a group of strangers they both now consider genuine friends.
And while Tom already knew a few on the tour, Mel now needn’t look too far for advice.
“There was another southern merino and angus producer on the trip who I met, and to have her as a contact is fantastic. I feel really confident bouncing tricky questions off her, and it’s always positive to have the perspective a set of fresh eyes provides.”
With the tour consisting of a near equal mix of men and women, across a diversity of age groups and regions, Mel said it was fascinating to hear their differing approaches to business, despite all seeking the same outcome.
Likewise, she believed the inclusion of Rabobank staff on the tour was particularly beneficial.
“The managers are able to provide a different perspective again, and have so much information we were able to tap directly into, and it was knowledge they shared very generously.”
Boots on the ground learning
The insights gained on-farm were just as valuable.
From the Hayes family’s intergenerational “Undoolya” which had been refined over 150 years of ownership, through to newer entrants into the Northern Territory market, Mel’s fascination remained unwavering.
“The Hayes family really seem to have it down pat, they’ve work out over time what works for them and they’re nailing their business.”
“We also visited farmers who are still learning how to deal with the challenges of the region, and as farmers who operate in the Snowy Mountains – which is also challenging climate at times, just at the opposite extreme – we really appreciated hearing their stories and strategies.”
Tom found the cattle marketing in the top end particularly interesting, and was surprised to learn that most of the cattle around Alice Springs go to South Australian and Victorian markets.
“In the north, I enjoyed learning about the ways they market cattle for different types, it was really fascinating.”
Learning the story of Tipperary Station manager David Connolly was equally engaging.
The tour’s access to the workings of a corporate enterprise also proved surprisingly inspirational.
“It was unreal to see the workings of a corporate in a developing industry, the risks they are willing to take, their experiments with cropping and diversification into cotton,” Mel said.
“These businesses are growing cotton and using the cotton seed to feed their cattle in Early Weaning Programs, mitigating their freight costs, and exemplify the Northern Territory industry’s tendency to think outside the box and really capitalise on and create credible businesses.”
Mel and George Haylock
For anyone who runs a working farm to take time out of their day to welcome guests, show them around, and even cater for them, takes a lot – a fact everyone on the tour acknowledged, and was grateful for.
“We all live on farms, we all know how busy they are, but on all the properties we visited we were so generously welcomed, and we don’t underestimate what a privilege it is to have the opportunity to access these iconic Australian operations,” Mel said.
Tom agreed, and looked forward to revisiting these new-found friends in the future.
“For people to spend time showing you around their farm and sharing their insights with you is incredible, and something we would not have been able to experience otherwise, and I feel very grateful.”
A beefed up agenda beyond the farm gate
Having attended a number of Rabobank events, including the Rabobank Farm2Fork Summit earlier this year, and various courses and workshops, this was Mel and George’s first Rabobank Client Knowledge Tour.
And it didn’t disappoint.
“Rabobank always do things well, so we knew it would be a great tour – there’s always an enormous amount of planning and coordination to ensure events are highly considered, relevant and diverse, and this tour was no exception.”
Small details, from visiting the beef export yards, to the port in Darwin and tasting the end product throughout the tour, Mel said care was taken to provide a full picture of the industry.
“Organiser Shayne Sice was on the ball the whole time, and the whole thing ran so smoothly.”
A visit to the Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm was another unexpected highlight for Tom.
Rabobank NT Beef Tour participants enjoy some down time at Devils Marbles.
“It may not be beef, but the Richards family have an incredible story of turning a dream into reality through hard work and ability, and I very much enjoyed my visit there.”
From dinner upon a boat in Katherine Gorge to a soak in Mataranka hot springs, Mel said there were so many ‘treats’ she wasn’t expecting when signing up for a beef tour.
“One evening we were having sundowners at Devils Marbles and the light reflecting on the rocks was just so stunning – some things you just can’t organise, and throughout our whole trip things just always managed to work out perfectly. It was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience that I would recommend to everyone.”