A HEAVY wheat crop at Narromine is the first winner in the Suncorp/Agricultural Societies Council Dryland Field Wheat competition regional finals.
Jodi Browning, Narramine Station, Narromine, won first place for the northern region of the competition.
Her Gregory wheat was sown on May 5 at 40 kilograms a hectare and is estimated to yield about 7t/ha, according to Young agronomist and competition judge Paul Parker.
The crop was one of the densest he had seen, Mr Parker said.
“It’s a good, heavy crop and has performed very well – it’s trueness to type and maturity are very good.”
Mr Parker said Ms Browning’s wheat, which was still green, would benefit from last week’s rain.
“It’s still green enough to benefit from the rain but there could be a potential problem with yield in those crops closer to harvest,” he said.
“If it dries up quickly, they should be fine.”
Crops at Crooble, Bellata, Narrabri, Gilgandra and Gulargambone also featured in the northern region competition, with all crops presented to a high standard.
Most crops were weed free, Mr Parker said, a sign management programs were working in the district.
“There was disease in all crops, mainly crown rot, in varying degrees,” he said.
“Crown rot is usually a sign of dry years before, in this case, it’s a dry finish.”
Runners-up were the O’Regan family, “Koyuga”, Narrabri, with a Suntop wheat crop estimated to yield 5.7t/ha.
Geoff Manchee and family, Leverton Pastoral Company, Crooble, placed third with a crop of Sunbri wheat, also estimated to yield 5.7t/ha.
In fourth were Roger and George Pagan and families, “Ardmona”, Gilgandra, with their Lancer wheat, also estimated at 5.7t/ha.
Judging continues next week in the western region.