Lambrook wins state wheat prize

Mullaley’s Lambrook Pastoral Co has been crowned state champion in the AgShows NSW durum wheat competition with a 6.5t/ha yield, scoring 189 points.

Lambrook farm manager of almost 24 years, James Vince, was “very surprised” to claim the top title.

“I didn’t expect it at all,” he said.

Mr Vince said the win followed a third placing in the same category five years ago and was just rewards for a genuine “team effort” in the whole process.

“From the boss who owns the soil, the people on the ground, timing of the sowing and the commitment to get it harvested,” he said.

Lambrook, which is owned by William Adams and located east of Mullaley, battled fickle weather like many properties in the region. But it was enough to secure the well-deserved win.

After planting a crop of canola the season before the winning wheat, Mr Vince said it was likely sorghum will be sown around October.

He was also hopeful of a good year ahead for Lambrook with “reasonable” sub-soil moisture.

Meanwhile in other awards, Paraway Pastoral Co in Narromine claimed the overall top ranking for the northern region.

Their crop led the northern region with a score of 204 points for a 6.6t/ha yield, surpassing high scoring competitors from Warialda and Gilgandra in a region which encompasses a vast territory from North Star to Nyngan.

Second place was awarded to Warialda’s Ray and Nikki Price with third going the way of Gilgandra’s Hassall & Co.

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.”

The gala dinner in Dubbo was attended by finalists, industry participants, leader of NSW Nationals and Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders MP, and Hunter White representing the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales.

AgShows NSW chair of the wheat competition committee, David Herbert, said the competition holds great significance in the industry.