PRODUCING the highest volume of wheat per hectare was vital to an Alawoona farmer’s second-straight Brown’s Well crop competition victory.
Alawoona farmer Lachie Singh – working with father Kevin – won the 2020 Brown’s Well crop competition with his Scepter wheat crop earlier this month.
Mr Singh – who also won the competition in 2019 – said a total crop yield of approximately 2.76 tonnes per hectare was key to success.
“It’s always a good day out and getting another win on the board is always a great feeling,” Mr Singh said.
“I don’t score my own crop, so it must have looked good to everyone who’s there on the day.
“It had the most tonnes per hectare compared to the others.
“There’s a few different areas you get scored on, if it’s a clean barley crop or if you’ve missed bits in the paddock, but the yield takes up the majority of it.”
Taplan-based farmer James Shannon came second in the competition with a score of 83.06, while Adam Flavel’s Meribah crop came third on 77.41.
Mr Singh said above-average rainfall in the region this season had generated confidence among Riverland and Mallee farmers.
“It’s just nice to see the countryside greener after a couple pretty miserable seasons,” he said.
“I think it will be a good crop over there.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said touring the crop sites provided further insight into the region’s agricultural industry
“It’s a really good learning day for me,” Mr Pasin said.
“I’ve learnt more about broadacre Mallee farming in a few hours out on this crop walk that I would have elsewhere.
“It’s amazing what you learn and it’s so good to be here with Mallee farmers optimistic about the harvests, particularly against the background of two poor years.
“It’s a sense of optimism I’m enjoying and with all things being careful, this grain will make it into the silo and relive some of the financial pressures that have built up over the last two years.”
Mr Singh said participating in the competition provided farmers opportunities to connect with industry professionals and agricultural product suppliers.
“It’s a great day,” he said.
“It’s not just the farmers who come, you get representatives from grain growers, grain traders, your chemical resellers and fertiliser guys.
“Sometimes you don’t get to see them very often, so it’s good to get everyone together and catch up.”
Mr Singh said continually improving growing practices was crucial to ensuring farming remained sustainable in the region.
“I wish everyone a good harvest,” he said.