Duncan MacGillivray, Chairman of the MacGillivray Group, runs the noted South East property Wittalocka and is making further rural investments with the growth of the Wittalocka Angus stud and a paddock-to-plate beef label. We get his response to OUR TOP FIVE QUESTIONS

What makes regional South Australia a good place to do business?

Today’s technology provides all regional SA businesses with up to the minute commodity, business and market information and communication.

What excites you about the future of agribusiness in SA?

The increasing demand from non-traditional markets for our grain, livestock and aquaculture products, including Asia, The Middle East and EU. Also the probability that the $A value will drop as and when the United States economy improves.

Where do you see your business/sector in 20 years time?

We are primarily in the livestock business. I can see us continuing to develop our seed stock Angus stud business (Wittalocka Angus) and developing further into some cereal cropping for hay and grains. We also see the opportunity to establish our Wittalocka Natural Spring beef business, premium beef paddock to plate.

What challenges do we face and how well-placed are we to survive and thrive?

The obvious challenges we are all concerned about are water, interest rates and the $A. We must manage ourselves through these hurdles, and our hard work and commitment to the business will prevail.

If you had $1 million to invest in a rural industry, which one would it be and why?

If I had $1m dollars to invest, an add-on to our existing business would be my choice. More land and more water - for all the economic reasons.

What was the best business advice ever given to you?

The best business advice ever given: There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.