AFTER 24 years, the Brosnan family have decided to call time on its well known irrigation farm Emerald Downs.
The property, which is located adjacent to the Emerald township, was originally owned by Dermot and Eileen Brosnan. It is currently owned and operated by Michael and Tina Brosnan.
Emerald Downs comprises 341ha (843 acres) of which 280ha is fully developed furrow irrigation with an extensive network of supply channels, head ditches, tail drains and recycling sumps.
There is also a 280 megalitres storage dam which is filled from overland flow and recaptured tail water. A licensed storm water diversion agreement is associated with this storage. An additional 20ha of dryland cultivation could be developed to irrigation.
Emerald Downs will be auctioned by Rural Property Services in Emerald on October 4.
Marketing agent Howard Mills, Rural Property Services, said it was a golden opportunity to purchase one of the pick irrigation properties in the district with 100ha of planted cotton given in with the sale.
The announced allocation is 100 per cent for this water year. The Fairbairn Dam irrigation scheme is one of the most reliable in Australia.
Emerald Downs will initially be offered bare of plant, machinery with and including 100ha of planted cotton with pre-plant fertiliser and the supplemented water allocation of 1133ML from the Fairbairn Dam.
If not sold, the property will then be offered in two parcels: Emerald Downs, bare of plant and machinery with and including 100ha of planted cotton with pre-plant fertiliser.
The supplemented water allocation of 1133ML from the Fairbairn Dam will then be offered. A substantial carry over from the previous year will be included.
Mr Mills said the sale of both the property and water allocation were dependent on the sale of each other.
The improvements on Emerald Downs are described as well above average. There is a five bedroom homestead, manager’s cottage and two large machinery sheds surrounded by a hardstand apron.
Emerald Downs is set up for liquid fertiliser with three 30,000L storage tanks. There is also 160 tonnes of on-farm grain storage and two seed silos
Mr Mills said Emerald Downs was a proven performers.
“The 2015 mung bean crop of 110ha yielded 2.2 tonnes per ha and grossed $1200/t,” Mr Milla said. “Irrigated wheat crops consistently yield 5t/ha with 11.5pc protein. Chickpea crops consistently yield an average of 1.8t/ha dry land, and cotton yields for last three years have been 9.5 to 10 bales/ha.”
Contact Howard Mills, 0418 220 464, Rural Property Services.
