Judge Frank McRae, Jason Wright, and Ben Graystone from Suncorp Bank pictured in 2023.
A mixed bag of entries is expected thanks to a dramatic weather shift from last year’s widespread flooding to the current El Niño conditions celebrating 25 years of the Suncorp Bank/AgShows NSW Dryland Field Wheat Competitions.
“In different regions, production outlooks differ. Some farmers are optimistic about an increased production thanks to favorable growing conditions, while others are contemplating whether it’s even economically viable to harvest their crop,” Dave Herbert, Chair of the Wheat Advisory Committee, said.
A 24 percent decline from the previous year’s record-breaking winter crop of 63.85 million tonnes is anticipated by Rabobank.
“While there will be less wheat around than in previous years, it will still be very interesting to see which areas have performed better over others, and to evaluate the impact of different management practices,” Dave said.
Established in 1996, the Dryland Wheat Competition offers immense educational value to participating growers.
“It’s a very effective way to encourage sustainability and productivity in the industry,” Dave said.
The judging process will begin next month, with Northern growers first in the firing line. Following this, Western, Central and Southern districts will follow suit to determine the top five crops in each region. The announcement of the regional and, ultimately, the state winner will be announced at the 2023 Wheat Presentation Dinner in Dubbo on 12th January 2024 at Club Dubbo.
The cut-off dates for the 2023 Dryland Field Wheat Judging for Canowindra is 15th November 2023. Growers can enter through their local competition. The local area coordinator for Canowindra is Sarah Cummings 0429 070 686.