A Family Legacy Thriving In Ingham

Di Bella Produce and Farming is a family-owned, family-run business situated in Ingham. The Di Bella’s believe that business diversity is critical in agriculture to ride through the ups and downs found in agriculture, when dealing with weather, markets, pests and diseases, etc.

Lawrence Di Bella originally established a seed business in 2000, but handed the business over to his friend Tom Gilbert, to grow the business, whilst Lawrence and his wife Anna raised their young family.

Tom retired in 2019, and Lawrence, Anna and Hayden Di Bella decided to re-purchase the seed business to see it thrive and continue to grow it.

“We are at a point now where we have grown large enough that we actually have to grow our own seed to meet our client’s demand,” explained Lawrence.

“Last year was our first year of growing and we grew 12.8 tonne, it was our first attempt, and we grew that in the Burdekin.

“This year we have had almost over 90 tonne of seed that we have grown in the Ingham and the Burdekin areas under contract with other growers. This seed will be sold over the next few months throughout Queensland and NSW.”

Last year they sold seed to as far north as Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory, to as far south as central New South Wales.

Whilst selling Australia wide, Di Bella Produce and Farming’s main group of clients are located in Ingham and Tully area.

What sets Di Bella Produce and Farming apart from other businesses is that they also offer agronomic advice too.

“We don't just buy and sell seed. We are actually there to provide agronomic advice and support that goes with the seed,” said Lawrence.

“That's what makes us a little bit different.

“We look at what plant species will suit each situation. For example, if a farmer is growing a mixed fallow legume crop, we will look at what is the optimum mix for their soil type and conditions.”

“Our Northern Territory growers are actually more veggie growers or into regenerative cropping systems.

“If there's any disease pressures, they can have a chat with me about what is the disease and how to manage it their vegetable crops.

“We also do pasture where we actually work out pasture is best for the cattle or horses.”

Lawrence is an agronomist with three tertiary qualifications. Years of experience and being involved with trials undertaken by various universities and the CRC Soils over his working career, has allowed him to develop a wealth of knowledge.  Di Bella Produce and Farming has also undertaken trials on its farms to access different plant species and their suitability.

Di Bella Produce and Farming is now a diversified farming business growing sugarcane and horticultural crops, seed sales, farm machinery contracting and agriculture consulting through Tropical Agricultural Services.

Lawrence and Anna are the owners, with their children Hayden, Nicholas and Gemma all employed in the business in different roles and capacities.

The family love working in their agriculture business, and they’re excited to see what the future entails as they keep growing and expanding the business.

Lawrence Di Bella and Anna Di Bella, Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

QCAR Herbert River District Administration Officer Anna Di Bella took this stunning photo on her farm last week