Greenups reconsider 2024 game plan following tough year

Despite a tougher than usual 12 months, Greenup Eidsvold Station recorded a cracker 2023 bull sale, reporting almost $1million in sales with a capacity crowd.

The brand new sale yards were put to the test at Greenup Eidsvold Station 2023 sale.

The annual Greenup Eidsvold Station bull sale has become a key event in the Burnett agricultural calendar, drawing hundreds to bid or simply attend.

On Thursday, September 14, the Greenup family hosted a “standing room only” crowd at their new sale complex at Belvedere, Eidsvold, where 120 bulls went under the hammer.

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The top priced bull went home for $29,000, well above the sale average of $8752 with an impressive total gross of $948,000.00.

Owner Alice Greenup commented on the sale, and said despite a dry year, the sale was a success for the oldest Santa Gertrudis Stud in Australia with more than 70 registered bidders making the pilgrimage.

“There were bursting stands which is always nice to see,” she said.

Despite the success of the sale, Alice and her husband Rick said they will take time to reflect on their approach to next year’s sale as external pressures continue to mount.

“We have had 200ml in rain here for the year and the last time we had that was 2019,” she said.

“It has been a real challenge and will be a challenge to keep the next lot of bulls going, it is a constant cycle.”

Mrs Greenup said the situation within the Queensland cattle market was divided, as the northern parts of the state benefited from more generous rainfall compared to their southern neighbours.

This dry season, combined with abattoirs reaching processing capacity, has brought down the state’s cattle price as farmers look to offload cattle quickly ahead of drier weather.

“That said, some of the northern farmers who have been sitting on more feed have been able to batten down the hatches and retain a lot more cattle,” Mrs Greenup said.

She said despite the uncertainty of the short term market, she, her husband and their team would continue with the long term game plans of improving infrastructure, genetics and connecting with people within the industry.

“In our industry you have got to have a long term game and then you just have to manage for these rollercoaster times.”