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27/05/2025
Michael, Rebecca, Hayden and Jordan Thompson
The early years of Michael and Rebecca Thompson’s farming story were punctuated by an old dirt floor shed, small underdeveloped paddocks and a sorry lack of on-farm infrastructure.
Transitioning out of the Thompson family’s intergenerational sheep operation in 2015 into grain, the young Yorke Peninsula couple had little more than fresh vision, and a blank canvas.
Today, they have increased their hectares from 388 to 5,000 in the tightly held Yorke Peninsula region, and any remnants of their original combine harvester has been superseded by three flex front headers, and a 48 metre boom spray.
It’s a significant, modern and efficient operation, built off the back of hard work and a passion for grain growing.
“Our goal was always to keep growing to achieve scale and efficiency, and in that growth phase we bought whatever we could get our hands on across the region, and we were lucky that interest rates were low, and land prices were gaining pace so it was a risk that paid off thanks to year-on-year growth.”
An intergenerational farming legacy continues
In recent years the couple has been more strategic in its expansion, selling off land further from their base at Minlaton, in favour of properties closer to home for productivity gains.
“My father was a passionate sheep man, and we still run a few sheep that keep him busy, but given the Yorke Peninsula’s enviable climate, soils and consistent rainfall, cropping presented the best opportunity to take the business forward.”
While current seasonal challenges remain, Michael is hopeful for a break in the weather, and is currently dry seeding.
His investment in machinery is, he believes, the greatest game-changer to his operation over the past decade, with his seeding unit now able to sow in two days what once took two weeks.
The difference a decade makes in machinery efficiency
“That’s an enormous jump in efficiency, and returns valuable time to our family, and to the business.”
Flexible header fronts have also contributed to a more streamlined harvest, particularly in the case of lentils.
“We predominantly grow wheat, with lentils our opportunity cash crop, and the new header fronts allow for so much more efficiency picking the grain off the deck.”
Rabobank supporting growth aspirations
Being attune to the financial fundamentals that underpin farm business growth enabled the Thompsons to expand with confidence, and they credit their Rabobank manager, Mark Northcott out of the Kadina Branch, for providing this knowledge.
“Mark has taught us so much about how funding works, and the KPIs and positions we need to have in place to access finance,” Michael explains. “This also helps us manage our risk strategy and comfortably expand. We feel fully informed, which helps us sleep a bit easier at night.”
“I didn’t appreciate the value of a good manager until we started working with Mark, he’s always quick to explain a product, or come out and have a look at our crops – that’s the difference between an interactive manager, and someone sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring.”
Michael with Rabobank manager, Mark Northcott
Michael is grateful for Rabobank’s support during the past low-rainfall season, and believes that’s the beauty of working with an ag-focussed bank.
“Rabobank is equally engaged in the good times, and the challenging, in fact they really step up in seasons like this as they know the cycles.”
“We feel very grateful that Rabobank has supported our growth even during bad seasons, sometimes there’s opportunity amongst the chaos, and the one thing you can bet on is that it will one day rain again.”
Rabobank’s All In One product is another point of difference that makes running a farm business more straightforward, Michael believes.
“The All In One makes it easy to keep track of your position – as grain growers we tend to spend all year, then get it back at the end of the year and it’s easy to continually draw and pay down in the one account.”
“It’s a simple and effective account that makes it easy to do business.”
From the Farm to Fork Summit on Sydney Harbour to Financial Skills Workshops, and Carbon Training Workshops, Michael said they try to attend most events and initiatives Rabobank put on.
Michael and Mark during a recent on-farm visit
“We value staying up-to-date on what’s going on in the industry, and I think the real beauty of these events lies in the networking opportunities, and chatting to different farmers from various regions – you always walk away learning a thing or two from these conversations.”
Looking to the future
Michael admits that his two sons, Hayden, 11 and Jordan, nine, have changed his perspective on the business, and growth is now centred around the next generation, rather than any early retirement aspirations.
“It’s an opportunity we’ve built for our family that makes us proud. When we started, Bec, Dad and I were on the tractor around the clock, then as we grew we gradually employed a team, and now we’re not so much on the tools but managing people and business and growing an enterprise for our sons.”
“Early on we did the Farm Owners Academy course, and they told us to be adventurous with our ten and twenty year plan – and we’ve certainly exceeded all our expectations thanks to the valuable guidance we’ve received.”
Michael reflects that perhaps starting an enterprise without a lingering cropping legacy helped forge their growth.
A team approach, Michael and Rebecca Thompson
“Bec and I had fresh eyes and no preconceived ideas, I’d worked driving a fuel truck for a few years before coming home and really paid attention to the blokes doing it well, and that’s what I aimed to replicate.”
He also credits Bec for being the backbone of the business.
“She’s really been the facilitator of our growth – managing everything in the background that’s enabled us to get ahead – and still jumping on the tractor when needed!”
“The women who do so much of the behind-the-scenes work contributing to our farm businesses don’t, in my opinion, get enough recognition.”
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