WARIALDA show society, one of many in the state who will not hold a wheat competition this year, is the first to take up a $200 offer by the Agricultural Societies Council (ASC) to conduct a social gathering for local wheat competition growers.
But organisers, Jack Moor and his parents, were quick off the mark and approached Rural Aid with the concept, and gained an additional $2000 for a get-together dinner function at the local showground of regular wheat grower competitors, agronomists and show society volunteers.
ASC spokesperson, Katie Stanley, said there were many local competitions which had to be cancelled this year due to the drought, however, the ASC proposed the $200 towards a social gathering or function to show appreciation of the efforts of local wheat growers who were doing it tough this year.
Ms Stanley said more than six show societies had taken up the offer to date.
Warialda's wheat committee coordinator, Jack Moor, jumped at the opportunity and began organising, but according to his father, David, had to go harvesting in Queensland, so left things with his parents.
"His mother, Cheryl, and I took over organising while Jack worked hard up north, but arrived home only a couple of hours before the function on October 23," David Moor said lightheartedly.
"Jack was quick to contact Rural Aid, who was also quick to respond positively, so we value-added to $2200 for a really great evening.
"As well as regular local wheat grower competitors, local agronomists who take turns to judge the local crops, and members of the show society totalling some 80 people enjoyed a dinner and entertainment from guest speakers."
Guests included a representative of Pacific Seeds, a machinery display by Boss Industries and Dr Robert Baker of University of New England who spoke of his work in determining solar cycles and weather.
Mr Moor said in normal years local agronomists would alert his son of good crops growing in the district, and he would encourage entries.
"Most years they will pick up to eight crops in our competition, which is pretty good," Mr Moor said.
WHILE entries in the Suncorp Bank/ASC NSW dryland field wheat competition are down in numbers, finalist crops in three of the four regions have been outstanding, according to the judge, Paul Parker, Young.
Zone finals have been judged in the Northern, Central and Western regions, and according to Mr Parker, yields overall, were higher than they were last year.
"I am sure that the reason is due to most croppers using long fallow," Mr Parker said.
"They were intending to sow crop last year and when it got dry, they didn't get it in so had some moisture down.
"A lot had some good rain during summer, then a bit more up to May which filled the profile up and they have grown the crop on stored moisture."
Mr Parker said the lowest amount of in-crop rain he had been told was about 58 millimetres since sowing.
"But because that went onto heavy country or fallowed country they've kept the moisture levels," he said.
Mr Parker said he had found little disease in most crops, which he thought would have attracted crown rot.
"There is little disease in all the crops," he said.
The southern region finals will be judged this week.
