GREENHILLS Pastoral at Willow Tree near Quirindi has taken out the state’s top prize for wheat growers in the 26th annual Suncorp Dryland and Field Wheat competition, with an awards dinner held at Dubbo last week.
Rob Cropper’s crop was victorious in a field of strong contenders following a highly successful winter grain harvest across all regions, with receival figures suggesting it has been one of the best seasons in years for many producers.
Greenhills Pastoral achieved an enormous 9.5 tonnes to the hectare yield and a dominant score during judging, according to AgShows NSW Wheat Committee Chair, Stephen Hatty.
The judging covered hundreds of kilometres, from Crooble to Cootamundra, stopping in at Gilgandra, Walgett, Hillston, Peak Hill, Barmedman, Cowra, Canowindra, Temora, Young, Gunnedah and Moree to inspect crops.
In the central region, where Greenhills Pastoral was judged, Cowra’s Illinois Farms and Canowindra’s Anthony Harrison were awarded second and third placings respectively.
The TJ Dwyer Farming Excellence Award was presented to Derrick Farming Co.
Stephen Derrick’s crop at Temora was the winner in the southern region ahead of Cootamundra’s John and Derek Ingold, and Sam Gordon of Manton Pastoral at Young.
In the western region, Hillston’s G Hutchison & Son took top honours, ahead of Peak Hill’s Greg Diener and the Minogue family of Barmedman.
In the state’s north, the crop from Crooble farmers David and Grace Quast trumped Ardmona Farming’s Roger and Sandra Pagan in Gilgandra, and Walgett producer Peter Ricardo who took third in the region.
For the second year in a row, Gunnedah’s Lambrook Pastoral Co emerged as the state champion in the durum wheat category ahead of Quirindi’s Merrilong Agriculture and Moree’s Graeme McPherson.
Media Release
