NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1986
JUNE, 2018
MELISSA WINS AGRIFUTURES AWARD
www.farmernews.com.au
MACHINERY BUYING GUIDE
PAGE 2
SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW PREVIEW
PAGES 12-17
PAGES 22-24 THREE GENERATIONS
Three generations of the Gooding family recently competed at the Mansfield Horse Trials. Pictured from left are Kerryn Gooding, with her horse Brookside Loti, Perrin Gooding with Lacey; Nicole Grey with Sylvester; Karen Skinner with Karimbrah Danz De Light and Brett Gooding with Karimbrah Clip Clop. Turn to page 26 for their story.
PHOTO: EQUINE FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY
Northern farm values rise by 6.4 per cent
FARM values across North East Victoria have taken a dive, with Wodonga recording a drop of more than $3000 per hectare in 2017 compared with the average median price of the preceding three years. A report by Rural Bank reveals Northern Victorian farm values jumped 6.4 per cent overall – but many across the same region recorded a
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Wodonga records $3000/hectare loss in same period BY RHYLL McCORMACK rmccormack@ nemedia.com.au
sliding median price. After Wodonga, the biggest
decline was recorded in the Campaspe Shire, with prices going from $5239 to $4849 per hectare. The Alpine Shire recorded a drop of $201 per hectare, and Mansfield $156. However, Elders farm sales specialist in Albury/Wodonga,
Reg Coulston, said the figures were not a true reflection of the marketplace. “Rural sales are as strong as ever in this area,” he said. “We haven’t got any land to sell, because no one is selling.” Mr Coulston deals in properties from Corryong
to Mulwala, and said land prices varied wildly – from $3600 to $16,000 per hectare depending on location. “Anything on the river is worth thousands – cattle country is making over $9600 a hectare easy,” he said. Mr Coulston estimated
farmland values had risen between 25-30 per cent over the last two years. “Buyers come here for the rainfall,” he said. In contrast, the Benalla Shire bounced back with a vengeance, the median price per hectare rising $1329 in 2017 over the previous three year averages.
Continued page 3