Find out more about Clyde Agriculture by reading the brief synopsis below.

Business Definition and Legal Entities

Clyde Agriculture Limited has been owned 100% by John Swire & Sons Pty Ltd (the Australian holding company for the UK based Swire Group), since 1988 having initially acquired a minority interest in 1983.   

Clyde Agriculture Ltd is principally in the business of primary agricultural production and land management owning and operating 13 rural holdings in northern NSW and one in Queensland. 

         Clyde has one subsidiary, Darling River Cotton Pty Ltd, which operates the cotton gin at Bourke. 

         The company operates three distinct production systems, namely: 

1.      Livestock – producing beef cattle, sheep-meat and wool

2.      Dryland Farming – producing cereals, oilseeds, pulses and course grains

3.      Irrigation – producing cotton, cereals, oilseeds, pulses and course grains 

The company seeks to maintain the investment in each of these three production systems between 20% and 40% of the company’s total investment. The commodity mix produced from each of these production systems is deliberately flexible to enable response to market conditions. The Company employs about 110 permanant staff.  

Additionally, the Company operates a cotton gin to process its own cotton, as well as that of other growers. 

Vision     

“To be the most respected agricultural company in Australia”

   Mission   

Clyde Agriculture takes a long term position in Australia’s agricultural sector recognising that returns to shareholders will be a combination of operating returns and longer term capital gain.   

  Values

At Clyde,

1.      we value our role as custodians to the land for future generations.

2.      we value the right to work in a safe environment.

3.      we value the contribution of both the family and community to Clyde’s success.

4.      we encourage innovation and thought leadership.

5.      we will take the most ethical path in all our business undertakings, honouring our commitments to our customers, staff, shareholders, business partners, suppliers and other stakeholders.                                            

         We recognised that to be successful, Clyde must ….

1.      Continually lower per unit cost of production whilst improving quality

2.      Manage our resources for future generations

3.      Improve accountability and transparency to all stakeholders

4.      Attract, retain and motivate the best employees

5.      Manage the downside risk associated with agricultural production

6.      Maximise capital appreciation from property portfolio

2. Philosophy and Broad Strategy

Principal Assets

Irrigation

 The irrigation farms grow a range of crops including wheat, corn, sorghum and chickpeas although the dominant crop is cotton with annual production of up to 40,000 bales of high quality cotton lint.

 In periods of moderate to high flows in the Darling and Barwon Rivers, Clyde is permitted to pump water either directly onto fields or into the farm storages. Evaporation is the cause of the greatest loss of water in storage so every attempt is made to utilise the water as soon as possible. The company can store up to 56,000 Ml in on-farm storages. The largest single storage is Janbeth which has a capacity of 13,300 megalitres, and covers an area of 360 hectares, with 9.4 kilometres of storage wall.  Evaporation rates amount to 1.8 metres per annum.

Cotton Gin

The cotton gin is located at Bourke, and has an annual and seasonal capacity of 60,000 to 70,000 bales.  The gin is a “combined gin” in that it incorporates both a conventional saw-tooth section, with three Continental Eagle gin stands, and a roller gin for the processing of extra long staple ‘Pima’ cotton.

 The two sections share common infrastructure, including a modern high density press.

Stations

* DSE is a Dry Sheep Equivalent

Some 32,000 hectares are designated for winter crop production of wheat, canola, chickpeas and barley.  The key consideration in determining the area and type of crop is soil moisture as “in-crop” rainfall is generally insufficient to ensure a crop. Additional considerations include soil nutrient, disease and economic factors. 

 Livestock production includes merino sheep for wool and meat, cross-bred sheep for meat (prime lambs), beef cattle breeding and beef cattle trading.  As part of the risk mitigation strategy, breeding stock (ewes and cows) cannot exceed more than 60% of the total carrying capacity of the property. This approach allows “dry” stock (steers and wethers) to be sold in periods when feed availability is low. 

Average annual sales from the station are as follows:

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Environmental Policy Statement

Environmental responsibility is a key goal of Clyde Agriculture. We recognise that preserving the wellbeing of the environment is integral to ensuring the future of our industry. The Company aims to utilise natural resources in a thoughtful and efficient way. Efficient use of resources includes preserving and, where possible, enhancing their value for the future. Natural resources integral to our farming and grazing operations include soil, water, vegetation, native fauna and air. Clyde Agriculture aims to:

 · Be ‘best in class’ when it comes to environmental performance

 · Employ advanced farming practices which will maintain and improve soil quality, so this fundamental resource may be passed on to future generations.

 · Utilise water resources, such as riverine irrigation extractions and artesian bores, in a way that recognises and accepts the interests of other users, including the community at large, and seeks to preserve the integrity of the hydrological cycle The Company will observe regulations and actively seek to improve storage and distribution techniques to improve water use efficiency and thus minimise wastage.

 · Understand the agricultural processes that result in greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere, and take measures to mitigate the Company’s impact.

· Be a good neighbour by observing careful and prudent chemical application practices on crops and grazing areas. The Company will actively pursue techniques to reduce chemical use where practicable. Regulations governing chemical use will be observed at all times.

 · Give full consideration to the aesthetic appeal of developments.

· Control feral wildlife populations (which are detrimental to other natural resources), consistent with regulations.

Clyde Agriculture has great pride in the history and character of its properties and the commitment and skills of the people within the Company. Clyde has a long term commitment to Australian agriculture and firmly believes its future success is integrally linked with the preservation of our environmental base.   

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