Lewis family to bow out

More than a decade of unseasonal low crop yields will end 55 years of Poll Merino breeding for the Lewis family of Corrigin.

Lewisdale-Corrigin stud principal Ivan Lewis said during the past 12 years, every second season had experienced a 30 per cent reduction in crop yield.

"Through continual frosts, lack of rainfall and rising debt levels, we had to keep our sheep alive through great expense," he said.

Mr Lewis is now sadly planning a stud dispersal after selling off 40 per cent of the farming property.

"I am hoping to maintain 1500ha but will have to find off-farm employment to support my wife and three children," he said.

Top in his agriculture business class at university, Mr Lewis said he was desperate to remain in the industry.

He said over the bad years, his family had suffered from a high level of anxiety over the amount of debt that was building. "I have discovered that when the situation reaches a point where you have to deal with it, the pressure is reduced dramatically," he said.

"I have accepted the fact that I must sell off the farm's assets."