Agricultural
8 November, 2022
Winners of Oakey Show Society 2022 Dryland Winter Crop Competition
The President of the Oakey Show Society, Mrs Judy Byers, has advised that the judging of the 2022 Dryland Field Winter Crop Competition entries has been completed.
Mrs Byers said the Show Committee was very pleased to hear that twenty entries were received across the wheat and barley sections.
There were no entries in the chickpea category.
Significant summer and autumn rain had built up the plant available water in the soil profile, which was enhanced by regular unseasonal falls throughout winter and spring.
Due to the wetter than normal and colder conditions, growers experienced challenges with plant establishment at the time of sowing.
Since then, crop progress and growth has led to potentially very high yielding crops.
At the time of crop inspection and judging from early to late October, the maturity status of the crops varied widely due to the cooler weather and because of the crops being sown in a wider than usual window from late April through to July.
The cooler moist conditions through the spring will ensure yield potential is maintained, as all entries and inspected crops had a well above average yield potential.
There was evidence of disease damage.
Harvesters commenced in mid October in isolated locations, with others commencing late October, early November.
Overall, the main harvest will be later than previous years.
Participating growers have expressed their appreciation with the capacity of the current varieties to grow and perform in a range of conditions, thereby leading to high than average yields.
Additionally, the disease pressures appeared to be minimal primarily due to the close monitoring and fungicide applications by growers and advisers.
Successive favourable growing conditions over the last three years have led to a build up of weeds including black oats.
On behalf of the Show Society, Mrs Byers congratulated the winners and all entrants for their participation.
In the barley section, first place was taken out by the Anderson family (Arcadia Rural), Brimblecombe’s Road with the Oxford variety.
Second place went to Grundy Farming with the La Perouse variety.
Several other entries in the barley section impressed the Judge with the crop condition and estimated yield.
For the prime hard wheat category, first place was won by the Kummerow Family (Girraween Farming) with Sunblade, and second place to the Rosenberger family, Silverleigh, with Raider.
In the durum wheat category, first place went to Girraween Farming with Westcourt variety, with the runner-up the Waddell family, at Formartin, also with Westcourt.
Being flexible with farming practices, good varietal selection, in conjunction with good nutrient management and crop husbandry has been a critical factor with the very welcome results.
The winners of the prime hard wheat and barley categories will now
represent the district at the 2022 RASQ Darling Downs Field Wheat and Barley competitions.
The growers of these winning crops will be presented with their prizes at the Oakey Show in March 2023.
Mrs Byers thanked all participants and the co-ordinator/judge Graham Cooke for the ongoing support to the Oakey Show Society Dryland Winter Crop competition, and said she is looking forward to the next competition in 2023.
