goFARM develops $90m almond farm

By Geoff Adams

Dec 4, 2023

The almond farm taking shape at Coomboona, near Mooroopna.

Farm re-developer and investment company, goFARM, has established a $90 million almond farm on former dairy farm and cropping properties in Trotter Rd and Meaklim Rd, Coomboona.

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The company specialises in aggregating farms and redeveloping them with large scale infrastructure.

The company’s 6000-hectare Sandmount property at Katunga is expected to be producing its first almond crop next year.

The Coomboona property will become the Shepparton region's biggest almond orchard.

At Coomboona, the company has secured an agreement with Goulburn Valley Water to access up to 1800 Ml of recycled water from the nearby waste treatment plant which processes Mooroopna’s waste.

goFARM managing director Liam Lenaghan said this opportunity, combined with the property’s proximity to a labour force in Shepparton and the right soil types, were key factors in the decision to buy the properties.

The four farms give the enterprise 1400ha. The first 150ha went into the ground with drip irrigation in August.

The longer term goal is to put 750ha under orchard.

The Coomboona project employs four people full-time and that number is expected to grow to 12 to 15 in the next few years.

Last week the company began harvesting wheat crops planted on ground prior to the establishment of the almond orchard.

Plant biologist David Doll from California visited the goFARM site at Coomboona recently.

Orchard manager Jarrod Savage walks along the rows of the new almond farm at Coomboona.

goFARM has engaged United States plant biologist David Doll to advise on the project.

Based in California, Mr Doll has advised growers in his home state, the broader US and in Europe.

He visited the Coomboona project recently, and asked about market prospects for future Australian crops, said there were opportunities as the big California industry was shrinking.

Even a small contraction from a large industry like California would open up big opportunities for smaller producers like Australia.

The goFARM company also operates Petro Station in the Mallee (9000ha); Morundah, NSW (11,000ha); and Canally Almond Orchards in the Sunraysia (10,000ha).