The third generation farmer’s story is one of many being celebrated around the country as part of the nation’s first National Agriculture Day on Tuesday, November 21.

After years of working on a short wheat/chickpea rotation, Mr Slack has found typical three year rotations to be more successful in preventing disease and producing higher yields on his properties at Gurley and Pallamallawa.

“We do wheat to fallow to cotton and corn, then double crop chickpeas, then take it back to wheat,” Mr Slack said.

“I’m still experimenting a little with rotation. My life is about experimenting with farming.

“I’m in a large benchmark group and we’re looking at different rotations.

“I find that very valuable information; I’ve changed things in my farming because of it. It’s certainly worked for us.”

Mr Slack runs a total of 13,000 acres across his two properties – ‘Koreen’ at Gurley and ‘Belvedere’ at Pallamallawa, as well as a share farm block halfway between the two.

The broadacre cropping properties produce wheat and chickpeas in winter and dryland cotton and corn throughout the summer months.

Mr Slack has been farming since he returned to the family property in 1989 after completing a diploma of farm management and a degree in applied science in rural technology.

“I love the lifestyle and the challenges,” he said.

“It keeps me going.

“It’s also a great way to bring up a family.”

Mr Slack has three grown children – his eldest daughter is a midwife in Moree, his other daughter is living in Brisbane studying a bachelor of business at Queensland University of Technology, while his son has just finished year 12 in Brisbane.

“He hopes to come back to the farm once he finishes uni,” Mr Slack said.

“He’ll be the fourth generation.”​