Twenty kilos of bacon and 35 kegs of beer a week are just some of what is fuelling the tiny border town of Mungindi through one of its biggest grain harvests in memory.
Sitting on the New South Wales–Queensland border, the town had just over 600 residents at the 2021 census.
But an explosion of workers during harvest season sees that figure grow by three to four times the size.
The rush to get crops like wheat and chickpeas harvested has the community bustling, and cafes and pubs are run off their feet.
The community of Mungindi has weathered droughts, COVID-19 border restrictions, and lost three key shops to a fire all inside the past five years.
But a strong harvest has the town buzzing and excited about its future.
Keg comparison
Two pubs service Mungindi — one technically on the NSW side of the river, and the other, on the northern side, in Queensland.
On a rainy day when headers cannot tend to the paddocks the local watering holes can fill up quickly.
While most workers live on farms during harvest, plenty make it to town for a few beers and dinner after finishing for the day.
At the Christensen family’s pub the beer consumption is an indicator of when the region does well in agriculture, and when it does not.
“Looking at our keg usage back in drought we’d do maybe six a week, whereas now we’re doing upwards of 35,” Ellie Christensen said.
“We increase our staff from running about four people to 12 coming into harvest.”
The workforce at the Two Mile Hotel at Mungindi more than doubles during harvest. (ABC Rural: Lara Webster)
When Ms Christensen moved back to Mungindi about seven years ago she said there were only two other women her age.
That demographic is shifting, with more young couples moving home to start families.
“What drew me back here was mainly family, but also the community,” she said.
“After having a baby I wouldn’t want to raise her anywhere else but here.”
Another young mother, grain grower, and agronomist Ashlee Johnston shared similar sentiments.
Ashlee Johnston says this year’s season has been vastly different from 2023. (ABC Rural: Lara Webster)
“Obviously coming out of those 10 years of drought [the community] was probably really struggling,” she reflected.
“To see everyone have a crop, the town is alive. The community is really benefiting from the good season.”
According to commodity forecaster ABARES the total value of wheat across the New England North West region for the 2020/21 season was $828 million.
Coffee calls
Nikki Smith knows just about every person who comes through her cafe door by name.
Even though it is a busy harvest it only takes a day or two to know the new faces of contractors and truckies in need of a coffee or bacon and egg roll as they pass through Mungindi.
Mungindi local Nikki Smith has been run off her feet since taking over the cafe in September. (ABC Rural: Amelia Bernasconi)
Ms Smith has lived in the region her whole life and loves the buzz felt during a good time on the land.
“I just love the people here, the community. I’ve been run off my feet,” she said.
The coffee order has been boosted and Ms Smith has doubled her supply trips into the next big town of Moree, 120 kilometres away, from once a fortnight to once a week.
“Bacon and egg rolls are the most popular. We go through a lot of bacon,” she said.
“We just got 20 kilos delivered — that’s for the week. That’s all we can fit at a time,” she laughed.
Healthy crops, healthy community
The benefits of healthy crops, like these chickpeas, flows from the farm through to the Mungindi community. (ABC Rural: Amelia Bernasconi)
Mungindi’s harvest kicked off in early October and will wrap up within the next week, provided the rain holds off.
As a born and bred grain grower from Thallon, just north of Mungindi, Mick Brosnan said this season had been fantastic.
“This is one of the best year’s we’ve had,” he said.
“The chickpea yields are fantastic, up near record yields, and the wheat also up near record yields we’ve had on this farm.”
Like Mr Brosnan, many growers surrounding Mungindi are celebrating a successful harvest. (ABC Rural: Amelia Bernasconi)
A good season on the farm means big things for a small community so reliant on the ups and downs of agriculture.
“It has a flow on effect naturally — more people, more money,” he said.
“Everyone’s got a pep in their step at the moment. [It’s] very, very healthy for the whole community.”
Many growers are also busy planting summer crops, leaving everyone with their fingers crossed that the good luck continues.
