Rob and Mandy Taylor win state wheat competition for the third time L-R Jill Chapman [President AgShows NSW], Brendan Munn [Lowes], Mandy and Rob Taylor, Jenny Taylor [Suncorp Bank], Dugald Saunders [Leader of the Nationals], and Youseff Fares [Dual Chelate].
Grenfell wheat growers, Rob and Mandy Taylor, have achieved an outstanding feat by clinching the prestigious AgShows NSW Suncorp Bank Championship Dryland Field Wheat Competition state title for the third consecutive year.
Organised by AgShows NSW, the peak body representing 192 shows, this annual competition recognises excellence in wheat farming across four regions before culminating in a state final.
The Taylors secured their spot at the state finals by outperforming competitors in the central region. With an impressive point score of 226 for their 7.6t/ha yield, they surpassed Quirindi’s Cory Behsman at Romani Pastoral Co and Cowra’s Tom Johnstone at Illinois Farm in the same region.
Judge Frank McRae of DLF Seeds Australia said the entries selected for the regional finals were of a high standard with excellent agronomic management.
“The regional finalist’s crops were a credit to growers, their advisors and agronomists. Most crops were on good rotations with an increasing trend towards double-break crops,” Mr McRae said.
“Many entries showed outstanding yield potential given the low in-crop rainfall recorded during the growing period, and yield potential varied across the state depending on seasonal conditions.”
“The northern region was affected by the extremely dry conditions experienced throughout the year, with many crops failing and others not being sown. Late rains before harvest affected the final yield and grain quality of some central and southern crops.”
AgShows NSW chair of the wheat competition committee, David Herbert, said the competition holds great significance in the industry.