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Whopper yield puts Croppers on top in NSW wheat comp

Grain Central January 13, 2025

AgShows NSW Annual Dryland and Field Wheat Competition overall winners Rob and Camilla Cropper from Greenhills Pastoral (centre) with Brendan Munn of Lowes Petroleum, Flexicoil’s Catherine Neasbey, Suncorp’s Ben Graystone,  Youssef Fares of Dual Chelate, and AgShows NSW president Jill Chapman. Photo: AgShows NSW

GREENHILLS Pastoral in Willow Tree near Quirindi has taken out New South Wales’ top prize for wheat growers in the 26th annual Dryland and Field Wheat competition.

The crop, grown by Rob Cropper of Greenhills Pastoral, 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 winning crop achieved an enormous yield of 9.5 tonnes per hectare, and a dominant score during judging, according to AgShows NSW Wheat Committee chair Stephen Hatty.

“The 2024 season has delivered varying results for grain growers across the state, with some exceptional crops in favourable area,” Mr Hatty said.

“The yields achieved in the crops judged were outstanding, displaying the commitment by farmers to utilise the resources available to produce wheat.”

The judging covered hundreds of kilometres from Crooble to Cootamundra, stopping in at locations including Gilgandra, Walgett, Hillston, Peak Hill, Barmedman, Cowra, Canowindra, Temora, Young, Gunnedah and Moree to inspect crops.

Organised by AgShows NSW, 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 place respectively.

TJ Dwyer Farming Excellence Award winners Michelle and Stephen Derrick (centre) with AgShows NSW president Jill Chapman, Brendan Munn of Lowes Petroleum, Dave Herbert, Dual Chelate’s Youssef Fares and Ben Graystone from Suncorp. Photo: AgShows NSW

The TJ Dwyer Farming Excellence Award was presented last night to Derrick Farming Co.

The Farming Excellence Award honours the commitment to the competition of the late Tom Dwyer by recognising a farming operation who shows that same commitment, attention to detail and passion within their own operations.

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.

“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,” Suncorp Bank senior relationship manager Ben Graystone said.

Source: AgShows NSW

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