Kalbar veggie farmer Scott Moore grew up on the tractor before and after school on the same farm he now owns and runs. 

The 27-year-old farms 76 hectares of green beans, sweet corn, mung beans, barley and chickpeas at his Scenic Rim property using skills and lessons passed down through five generations on the land.  

His father taught him the essentials when Scott was young, skills he has adapted and used through periods of rain, hail, and shine.  

Scott accessed a Sustainability Loan from Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) in 2018 to purchase his share of the family farm and make his own mark in the industry he grew up in.  

“Farming is just what I always wanted to do, I never thought about doing anything else. I was on the tractor before and after school, it’s just the way it was,” Scott said.  

Scott turned the predominantly lucerne farm into a grain and vegetable farm using a fresh approach and new technologies.  

Scott said his introduction to independent farming had been challenging, with relentless hailstorms and drought.  

A flood in April 2017 took half a year’s crop, in January 2018 a hailstorm claimed half again, and a few months later Scott said he lost everything in another hailstorm.  

“After the last hailstorm we thought, why are we even doing this, we worked so hard to get in front and in an hour it’s all gone. Once that happens three times in two years it’s a bit tough, but we are back on track now,” Scott said.  

Scott said he already knew to turn to QRIDA when he was ready to purchase the farm.  

South East Regional Area Manager Brian Coe was able to meet Scott on-farm to help him through the application process and answer any questions.  

“We had known about QRIDA for a few years and when I started looking into buying part of the farm, I rang the office and talked to Brian,” Scott said.  

“It was all very easy. Brian came out to the farm and helped me with the paperwork.” 

He said his transition into owning a farm would have taken longer without access to QRIDA services.  

“The interest rate was good, better than anywhere else. I like how QRIDA supports people like me, young farmers coming through,” Scott said.  

“I also like it’s flexibility, so if we have a bad year there are options. QRIDA has been really good and very helpful, I have never had any troubles.  

“It would have been a lot harder to get to where I am without the loan.” 

Scott said he encouraged other aspiring primary producers to get in touch with QRIDA when they were ready to make the next move in their primary production enterprises. 

Sustainability Loans of up to $1,300,000 are available to assist in achieving a more productive and sustainable primary production enterprise. 

For more information see www.qrida.qld.gov.au or Freecall 1800 623 946.