State wheat champion announced after strong statewide harvest

Greenhills Pastoral in Willow Tree near Quirindi has taken out the state’s top prize for wheat growers in the 26th annual Dryland and Field Wheat competition.

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 recent memory for many producers.

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 this year’s crops.

Organised by AgShows NSW (the Agricultural Societies Council of New South Wales), the peak body representing the state’s 192 agricultural shows, this annual competition recognises excellence in wheat farming across four regions before culminating in a state final.

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.

Stephen Derrick’s crop in 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.

Reflecting on over a decade of sponsorship by Suncorp Bank, Ben Graystone commented on his organisation’s support of the competition.

“Its great to play a major part of this competition again, with Suncorp Bank being the major sponsor now for 11 years running,” Ben said.

“We get so much out of it by spending time with the judges and meeting the growers on farm and seeing what their challenges are, what the trends are and how they’ve achieved what they’ve achieved.”

“This year was such a contrast with great results in the north of the state, however lack of moisture and frost proved a real challenge in the south. As a bank we understand these challenges and are here to support where we can.”

This year’s competition is sponsored by Suncorp Bank, The Land, Lowes Petroleum, Dual Chelate, Flexi Coil and AgShows NSW.