Wheat growers in southern NSW have until November 17 to compete for the title of the state's best wheat.
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Run by AgShows NSW (the peak body for 192 shows), the long-standing Suncorp Bank Championship Dryland Field Wheat Competition is judged across four regions ahead of the state final.
The top five crops in each region (northern, central, southern and western) are identified and then judged to determine the state winner which is announced in the new year.
The southern region includes Albury, Ariah Park, Boorowa, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Culcairn, Harden, Henty, Holbrook, Howlong, Illabo, Junee, Puccawan, Temora, The Rock, Wagga Wagga, Walbundrie, Wallendbeen and Young
"AgShows NSW Wheat Competitions are an indicator of top wheat crop yields and quality and an opportunity for other growers to look over the fence to see what varieties are performing well in the current growing season," AgShows NSW president Tim Capp said.
"Our judges look to the 2021 winners for excellent performing varieties to meet quality milling wheat supply demands," Mr Capp said.
"Although there will be challenges in judging this year due to ongoing regional restrictions, it is important to keep the competition running. Many growers are eagerly anticipating it."
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"We will be doing our best to continue to host the competition for growers, especially in a year when so many on-farm field days and events were cancelled because of the regional lockdowns."
Strengthening grain prices and recent rain is auguring well for the upcoming harvest, while mice plagues and sustained cold growing temperatures in certain areas of the state have impacted crops.
While the wheat competition is typically a yield-based competition, if a grower has made the best of the local season, spraying and feeding the crop to grow an optimal plant base it should perform well in this year's competition.
"You can generally pick a contender immediately. They are the wheat crops free from weeds and disease, typically a good even crop with flag leaf vigour and is generally in good condition. While we can only estimate yield and vigour, it is typically these top-judged crops that will produce the excellent quality milling grain that will be in high demand this season as the US, Canadian and EU crops are already considerably smaller than expected."
This year's competition is sponsored by Suncorp Bank, The Land, Lowes Petroleum and Stoller Australia.
More details can be found at www.agshowsnsw.org.au/competitions/wheat-competition
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