Wheat growers encouraged to enter state competition amid challenging conditions

Last year, Greenethorpe wheat growers Rob and Mandy Taylor achieved an outstanding feat by clinching the prestigious AgShows NSW Suncorp Bank Championship Dryland Field Wheat and Durum Competition state title for the third consecutive year.

It marked the first time in the competition’s 25-year history any grower had clinched three successive wins, but backing that up with a fourth, as Rob well knows, has been in the lap of the weather gods, with frosts and dry conditions playing havoc with farmers before late rain delivered a windfall.

“We got a nice drop, 52 mm for the week last week, and that was very handy,” he said. “It’ll fill the wheat nicely and we should get good grain weights now, what potential it had will be realised. We always like to see a good fall in grain development.”

Rob said it might not be enough for them to deliver a competition-worthy crop in the face of concurrent below-zero temperatures in early spring, but he saw reason for optimism in the north and south of the state.

“In the north, I’ve seen for myself the crops are so thick you could almost walk over them,” he said. “And those growers who escaped the frosts in the south should have some ripping crops, especially around Young, Harden and Cootamundra, that’s for sure.”

This highly anticipated and popular annual competition celebrates excellence in bread wheat production, providing an opportunity for growers to be recognised for their hard work in overcoming challenging conditions.

The Taylors compete against farmers in the state’s Central region, which reaches as far north as Gunnedah, but last year they and Peter and Tom Johnstone of Woodstock, near Cowra, ranked in the division’s top three.

Competition cutoff for Northern NSW has already passed and now time is ticking for growers in the state’s western division, which includes parts of the Riverina, who are reminded their entries need to be in by 23 October.

Out there, last year’s first and second placegetters hailed from Hillston and Lockhart and they too will be looking to back that up, with the possibility of a state title in their scopes.

Falls of rain in the south last week are boding well for Southern region farmers – where last year the Mickan Bros of the eastern Riverina community of Walbundrie were awarded the Dryland Field Wheat Competition Excellence Award.

They took their first placing over the Gordon family of “Manton”, near Young, and the Baldrys of Wallendbeen.

In addition to the honour and prestige, the competition provides valuable educational opportunities for all participants, offering them the chance to gain insights into best practices and innovations in wheat farming that can help improve productivity and sustainability across the sector.

AgShows Wheat Advisory Committee chair, Matong grain grower Stephen Hatty, encouraged growers to take part.

“Every year, we are impressed by the level of skill and innovation NSW growers bring to the table,” Mr Hatty said.

“While we may see a lower national wheat crop this year, the competition remains an excellent opportunity for growers to demonstrate the effectiveness of their management practices under difficult conditions.”

The competition is open to growers from all regions of NSW, with key closing dates as follows:

Western NSW: 23 October cutoff for growers in Ardlethan, Bogan Gate, Barellan, Barmedman, Beckom, Berrigan, Burcher, Condobolin, Caragabal, Corowa, Deniliquin, Finley, Ganmain, Griffith, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, Leeton, Lockhart, Merriwagga, Narrandera, Oaklands, Peak Hill, Rand, Rankin Springs, Trundle, Tullamore, Tocumwal, Top Woodlands, West Wyalong, Weethalle, Ungarie, and Urana.

Central NSW: 30 October cutoff for growers in Alectown, Binnaway, Canowindra, Carcoar, Coolah, Coonabarabran, Cowra, Cudal, Cumnock, Dubbo, Dunedoo, Eugowra, Forbes, Grenfell, Gulgong, Gunnedah, Manildra, Mendooran, Merriwa, Molong, Parkes, Premer, Quandialla, Quirindi, Spring Ridge, Tambar Springs, Tamworth, Wellington, Werris Creek, Wirrinya, Woodstock, and Yeoval.

Southern NSW: 20 November cutoff for growers in Albury, Ariah Park, Bribbaree, Boorowa, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Culcairn, Harden, Henty, Holbrook, Howlong, Illabo, Junee, Pucawan, Temora, The Rock, Wagga Wagga, Walbundrie, Wallendbeen, and Young.

To enter the competition, growers should contact their local coordinator, whose details can be found on the AgShows NSW website, along with entry forms and judging criteria.

Judging will begin shortly after the regional deadlines, with regional winners being announced later in the year.

The state winner will be revealed at the Wheat Presentation Dinner in Dubbo on 12 January, 2025.