5.2.2. The Mid Catchment

The Mid Catchment was initially developed for wool and wheat production. On the wetter slopes of the region, beef cattle, prime lamb and fine wool production also take place, as does some mixed cropping. Alternating crops of canola and lupins are grown where rainfall allows for more intensive cropping. Mixed farming systems tend to predominate on the Riverine Plains. Wheat and oats are the main crops grown here and sheep are extensively grazed. Dryland farming includes cropping (chiefly wheat, oats and barley) and extensive grazing (chiefly sheep, although cattle are not uncommon). The region also contains softwood timber plantations, some horticulture, and, near Wagga Wagga, some dairying. In 1994-95, 888 hectares of land were irrigated for rice growing.

Cattle tend to be supplementary to sheep, but in 1998 roughly 300,000 beef cattle were grazed in the Mid Murrumbidgee.