Siegerts and Sons: Focused on Cropping
15/11/2017
You know that saying; “the apple doesn't fall far from the tree”? Well, that is very true when it comes to the Goomalling farm. Murray Siegert and three of his sons have decided to work together for the next couple years on their 6000-acre block of land in Goomalling.
You know that saying; “the apple doesn't fall far from the tree”? Well, that is very true when it comes to the Goomalling farm. Murray Siegert and three of his sons have decided to work together for the next couple years on their 6000-acre block of land in Goomalling.Sons Kaleb and Josh will be working with Murray as will wife, Fiona. Fiona is more active in the office work needed by the farm but active nonetheless.
Murray started off with a smaller piece of land and purchased more over time allowing room for his sons to come home and to grow the family business with him. In 2014 Murray chose to break away from the family tradition, sell his 2000 head of sheep and turn his focus to cropping.
Murray has had a history of mixed enterprise farming with sheep used in the rotation. He noted that the shearing shed was deteriorating beyond repair and he didn’t have the time for expanding the farm to support more sheep. Murray has maintained tanks and throughs though in case there are sheep in his future. His oldest son Luke works full time on the farm after completing an apprenticeship as a boilermaker/welder in March of this year. Luke says ending up on the farm was always a plan but he was happy for his time in the trade in Perth before making the move back home. He notes that his profession turned out very helpful as upon returning to the farm he started to fix things right away in the shed.
Their other son Josh decided to go outside of farming and is pursuing a bachelor of sports science. Murry notes that Josh had always loved the sport and even though all three boys were heavily involved in sporting activities, for Josh it was a passion. Josh still plays some games for Gomalling, as did his brothers at different times.
Kaleb is 17 years old and recently completed studies at the Western Australian College of Agriculture. He had always had a keen interest in agriculture and was supported by Murray to pursue it. He is not sure at this point if he wants to come back to the farm right away or if he should finish a trade first. Kaleb at the moment is working with other farmers in the area, cutting hay and driving machinery. He is slated to work with a neighbouring farm during harvest time this year.
While all three boys won’t be working on the farm at the same time, Murray notes that they would always show interest in the local community and farming. They were still helping out during holidays and as the needs of the farm arise throughout the year. Luke is interested in the different farming methods and how technology will help with farming. He speaks about controlled traffic farming as something that may be useful in future. Regulated traffic farming can help with producing crops at a more affordable price and controlling weeds without having to rely on chemicals. They look forward to reaping their crops this cropping season. They will be harvesting wheat, barley, GM canola and lupins.
