Morven graziers tell of importance of mulga agistment in drought proofing business

The couple’s business is growing from strength to strength at the moment with exclusion fencing allowing them to return to sheep for the first time in about 20 years while 156mm in February and March has the property in fine form.

But their current success at Angellala Downs hasn’t come without a land improvement and drought proofing strategy they have adopted for decades.

Anywhere between 200 to 300 of their cows run on a mulga agistment block 90km south of Morven with numbers increased during dry times at Angellala Downs. 

Mulga harvesting makes the agistment a viable drought feeding option but the reliability of the block will be jeopardised if Labor’s vegetation management laws aren’t overturned.

Mr Winten is set to attend the public hearing into the Vegetation Management Amendment Bill in Charleville on Thursday having made a submission where he spoke of their possible intention to one day purchase a mulga block of their own.

“We cannot do this with constantly changing legislation leading to uncertainty and confusion,” it read.

“Banks and private investors will not invest in that changeable business environment.” 

Mr Winten, a fourth generation farmer, said the government didn’t understand their area.

“I can’t comment for North Queensland, but I’ve lived in south west Queensland all my life and I know what goes on here and they have definitely got it wrong,” he said.

“We have looked after the land for so long...and we don’t get any acknowledgement of that and all they do is try and make it harder and harder.”

The Wintens have had many successes with thinning on Angellala Downs. A paddock in particular, thinned about two years ago, has 60 trees/ha retained but now runs 160 cows when it previously struggled to carry 80.

They posted their submission on Facebook last week along with a picture of their children (below) which was shared more than 2000 times.

Ms Winten said without viable farming operations the new laws had flow on affects for small towns including other businesses and schools. 

“That’s the thing, you work hard, you put a lot of money into (farming), you don’t do it for free,” she said.

“The land development and fencing and improving your soils and improving your infrastructures, it all costs a lot of money and you need to make it run as a business.”