Greenline Farming
Sustainable Grains & Cotton from Coleambally, NSW
Greenline Farming, operated by David and Julie Bellato, is at the forefront of sustainable grain and cotton farming in the Riverina. Located in Coleambally, NSW, our farm produces high-quality soybeans, popping corn, durum wheat, and cotton, all contributing to everyday products like pasta, bread, corn chips, and even the cotton in your jeans and household textiles.
We are proud recipients of industry recognition for our commitment to innovation and best practices, including:
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Finalist – Weekly Times Farmer of the Year
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Winner – Cotton Australia Southern Valleys Cotton Grower of the Year
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National Finalist – AgriFutures Cotton Grower of the Year
About Us
Our Awards and Accolades
'Great recognition': Coleambally grower a Cotton Australia award finalist
By Allan Wilson Updated May 30 2024 - 2:59PM, first published May 29 2024
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A Coleambally cotton grower has been named a finalist in the prestigious Cotton Australia AgriRisk high achiever awards. David Bellato from Greenline Farming is one of three finalists in the category, up against those from Gunnedah, NSW and Dalby in QLD. Mr Bellato was elated to hear the news and is looking forward to attending the awards night on the Gold Coast in August. "I was really surprised, especially given I was up against prime growers in QLD and northern NSW," Mr Bellato said. "I think it's also great recognition for our area, further cementing it as a major player in the cotton growing industry." It's not the first time he and wife Julie have had their work recognised, with the couple taking out the Southern Valley Cotton Growers Association grower of the year award in 2023. A farmer of some 40 years -10 spent producing cotton - Mr Bellato said his operation consists of multiple lots totalling around 800 hectares. However, he describes himself as a smaller grower compared to others and chooses to specialise not just in cotton but popcorn, soy and wheat.
Coleambally's David and Julie Bellato of Greenline Farming. Mr Bellato has been named a finalist in Cotton Australia's Bayer Cotton AgriRisk high achiever awards. "With cotton we carry things out in rotation rather than back to back; that way we find diseases are a less prevalent threat," he said. "With regards to becoming a finalist, the judges don't just look at cotton; they look at the other crops you produce, the rotation of water and chemical usage. "New cotton varieties mean we've been able to cut down our water use and chemicals a great deal from the way things were 20 years ago," he said. Like many farmers in the MIA, water is hot topic on the hearts and minds of many. "Water buybacks are a major problem for growers and what's happening at the moment isn't good enough," Mr Bellato said. "We're growing food and fibre for the nation; we need all the water we can get."
Having just wrapped up the latest season on May 28, he says it's been a turn around from last year. "We only managed to produce eight bales last season and this time around we have 15 which is much better," he said. "This was mostly due to good weather; from Christmas until now conditions have been ideal not just for cotton but all summer crops. "For me, growing cotton is like growing anything else," he said. "You get out of it what you put in. The more effort, the better the results."
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Cotton Australia's CEO Adam Kay said the high calibre of nominees this year made the judging process extremely difficult. "Each of the finalists have displayed a commitment to growing cotton and a readiness to trial new farming methods and adopt technology," Mr Kay said. "The farming methods adopted by each of the finalists demonstrate the diversity between cotton growing regions and differing methods used to achieve the best results."
Award recipients will be announced during the industry's night of nights - the Australian Cotton Conference dinner - on August 6.
Farming for the Future
Black Falcon Conservation Project
Beyond producing premium grains and cotton, Greenline Farming is dedicated to conservation and sustainability. In partnership with Local Land Services (LLS), we are actively involved in the Black Falcon Conservation Project, working to protect and restore nesting sites for this rare and threatened bird species native to the Riverina.
Innovative Farming Techniques
Our commitment extends to industry knowledge-sharing, and we’ve proudly hosted the IREC Field Day, where we showcased innovative farming techniques, sustainability practices, and the impact of our work on the broader agricultural landscape.
The Falcon Project in Action
This World Wildlife Day we are sharing the story of farmer Julie Bellato who is helping Landcare Australia re-establish nests for the threatened Black Falcon.
Julie and her husband David are former AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year Nominees from Coleambally, NSW.
The IREC Field Day at Greenline Farming
AgriRisk High Achiever finalists David and Julie Bellato, along with their son Oscar, operate Greenline Farming in Coleambally. Their operation spans across four irrigation properties with 150 hectares dedicated to cotton cultivation annually. Over the past decade, they have consistently achieved high yields since integrating cotton into their farming system.
Waterbird Conservation in Rice Crops
Equally surprising was the discovery of several Eastern Grass Owls roosting in rice on two farms during the 2013-2014 season. Nobody expects to find them in southern NSW. There are also the Southern Bell Frog strongholds around Coleambally and the western Murray Valley; another threatened species using these food production wetlands.