MOREE Show Society is calling on wheat growers from across the district to enter crops in the Agshows NSW Suncorp Bank Championship Dryland Field Wheat Competition.
With a bumper harvest anticipated, Show Society secretary Karen Munn says now is the time to enter crops.
“I’d love our local growers to show the rest of New South Wales what we’re made off,” Mrs Munn said.
“We couldn’t compete last year because of the lack of rain, but this year will be different, I’m sure.”
Mrs Munn said show committees across New South Wales organise local competitions, with entries judged at a State level.
“Our local judging needs to be completed by October 9. After that, a State judge will decide the winnings crops for the region,” Mrs Munn said.
“The northern region is always ready to go first as our crops ripen a lot earlier than those further south.
“The northern region also holds a durum wheat competition, as durum isn’t grown in southern regions,” she said.
Crops are judged on farming practices, including zero-till and crop rotations in-field. Fertiliser history, as well as herbicide and pesticide history, is also considered.
“In-crop judging involves the judge doing grain counts in the heads to estimate yield, looking for trueness to type for the wheat variety, freedom from disease and weeds in crops. Most of the points are won with the yield estimate, however,” Mrs Munn said.
Glenn Fernance, east of Bellata, won the northern region wheat competition in 2018, as well as the New South Wales Farming Excellence Award in 2019. He was also the State Durum winner in 2021.
“The farming excellence award can only be won once, and it was fantastic to see this go to Glenn at Bellata,” Mrs Munn said.
The top five crops in each region are judged to determine regional winners, with a gala night and dinner at Dubbo planned in January.
“The dinner also provides an opportunity for farmers to network and share ideas,” Mrs Munn said.
The competition is decided in four regions across New South Wales – northern, western, central and southern.
The northern region includes Baradine, Barraba, Bellata, Bingara, Boggabri, Bourke, Burren Junction, Coonamble, Crooble, Croppa Creek, Delungra, Garah, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Gurley, Inverell, Manilla, Moree, Mungindi, Narrabri, Narromine, North Star, Nyngan, Tottenham, Walgett, Warialda,
Warren and Wee Waa.
Local competition winners receive a ribbon and $50 fuel voucher Lowes Petroleum.
The regional championship winner receives $600, a plaque and ribbon. Hamper as well as a $100 Lowes Petroleum voucher.
The State championship winner receives a trophy, ribbon and $200 Lowes Petroleum voucher and the farming excellence award winner receives $1000 and a hamper.
Words: Bill Poulos
