Outback Farming Reimagined: A Smarter Strategy for Year-Round Productivity

In a tale that blends adventure with ambition, Anthony and Danyelle Haigh embarked on a remarkable journey three years ago, leaving behind their travelling lifestyle to pursue their dreams in the heart of Australia's outback. Selling off their belongings, the Haigh’s made a bold move to 'Athelle', nestled 40 north of Aileron, and approximately 180 km north of Alice Springs, where they set out to build a new life centered around farming.

Prior to their venture into farming, the Haigh’s had traversed countless kilometres, operating a water drilling business as they roamed the country. However, as their children reached schooling age, they yearned for stability and continuity, leading them to seek out a new chapter in Central Australia. Drawing upon Anthony's prior experience in farming in New South Wales, the couple saw potential in establishing a hay production system to cater to farmers in the Northern Territory.

Simultaneously, Danyelle identified an opportunity to transform their farm into a tourist destination, capitalising on the allure of central Australia for travellers passing through. Today, 'Athelle' has become a hotspot for tourists, gaining recognition through its feature on the Channel Nine program, Outback Farm, which chronicles the Haigh’s' experiences on their Northern Territory property.

'Athelle' boasts three centre pivots totalling 85 ha, along with additional irrigation areas and grazing paddocks. Initially used for table grape production, the farm underwent a transformation upon the arrival of Anthony and Danyelle, transitioning into a thriving hub for hay production.

Seeking to optimise their production, the Haigh’s enlisted the expertise of Greg Forsyth, the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland territory manager for Barenbrug. Together, after considering irrigation water allocation and irrigation schedules, they decided to establish Mariner tetraploid Rhodes grass on their pivots, recognising its forage yield potential, combined with its improved quality compared to diploid varieties. This decision has proven fruitful, with the hay produced boasting lower fibre along with higher crude protein and metabolisable energy, enhancing livestock performance and quality being offered to purchasers of the hay. 

Prior to establishment the pivots had been cleared and contained remnant grasses, however the paddocks were chemically fallowed leading into establishment, with sowing occurring in September 2021. Following germination a N-P-K fertiliser was applied to promote growth and root development and fertiliser maintenance is a key part of the ongoing program to maximise production given the amount of nutrient removed in hay. 

To maintain productivity year-round, the Haigh’s employ a strategic approach, harvesting Rhodes grass on a five-week interval, harvesting roughly 5 tonne of hay per ha at each harvest during warmer months, and oversowing with oats or other short-term crops in winter. Additionally, they introduced SARDI Ten Series 2 lucerne into other irrigated areas, providing a high-quality feed option that complements their hay production. The lucerne is both sold as large square bales of hay, but also small bales are produced for local horse markets in Alice Springs. 

Looking ahead, the Haigh’s are eager to expand their operations, with plans to develop additional pivots in the coming years, aiming for a total of five operating pivots. Through working with Barenbrug they aim to further optimise yield potential and returns from the pivots. 

With a commitment to quality and innovation, Anthony and Danyelle Haigh exemplify the spirit of rural entrepreneurship, carving out a prosperous future amidst the vast landscapes of the Australian outback.