Rural land demand beating COVID-19

While auctions have been suspended, agents said primary producers were resilient, buoyed by high commodity prices and the low Australian dollar.

"The rural sector is seen very positively, we just need the stock to sell," Landmark Harcourts Wangaratta agent, Joe McKenzie said.

"Any suitable property we have had has gone, so let's see what the season brings.

"We have real demand for high rainfall, productive country, with water - the demand from buyers is huge, we just need the land."

Michael Everard, Elders, said coming into the new year, there was very little stock available, due to the strong spring selling season.

"Any stock that was available was taken," Mr Everard said.

"Auctions seem to have taken a bit of a back seat to expressions of interest, last season," Mr Everard said.

"Finance had tightened up and the process to secure finance was actually longer than the auction campaign, so most of it was being done by EoI's."

He said it was a quieter time of the year, and predicted sales would slow

"Once we get a good break, that's when properties come onto the market," he said.

"We'll just be going into a holding pattern, for now."

Rob Rickard, Elders Camperdown, said the coronavirus was not having a significant impact in the south-west.

"Inquiry is still coming forward; it's really quite surprising it's as busy as it is," Mr Rickard said.

An auction, which was set up before social distancing rules were introduced, was rescheduled as a tender sale.

Elders had recent inquiries about selling three dairy farms, in the area.

"We had really good seasonal conditions; we had a very good spring into summer.

"The cropping sector had outstanding yields, the price was good, and the milk price is also very good.

"Everybody knows the beef and sheep job has been very good."

Mr Rickard said it was all very positive in the south-west.

"People are looking to scale up, a lot of younger people are returning to agriculture, particularly in the cropping and grazing sector."

He said adapting to new technology was making his life a little bit more difficult.

"I've had to change the way I go about inspections; it's a little bit un-Australian. I find it a bit difficult when you don't have people in your car with you.

"You can't shake hands, that's very un-Australian, and I don't like that component."

But Mr Rickard said there was an upside.

"It may help some of us older fellas, who've been in the industry a long time, to smarten up our skills in technology."

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