Agricultural
12 September, 2023
Nominations for Show Society Dryland Winter Crop Comp. now open
Following a very successful winter crop competition in 2022, Oakey Show Society President Mrs Judy Byers is very excited to announce that the Dryland Winter Crop Competition will be held again in 2023.
In contrast to the regular and flooding rainfall events across the district in 2022, the rainfall patterns in 2023 have returned to around or below the district average.
Due to good soil moisture levels from the summer and autumn rains across the district, there has been widespread planting of winter cereals and legumes.
Though there has been minimal rainfall during the growing period, the early planted crops have generally established well.
The clear, almost cloudless, weather has minimised leaf disease issues to date
At this stage, all crops have the potential to provide satisfactory yields, albeit much lower than the records reached last year.
The clear, warmer spring days will take a toll, resulting in a quickening of the maturing phase.
Coordinator Graham Cooke advised that current conditions will lead to an earlier harvest this year, with the current buoyant prices expected to continue.
The Oakey Show Society now invites district growers to nominate their respective crops in the annual competition to demonstrate the economic value of these crops to the community, the benefits of contemporary farming practices in lower rainfall years, along with the natural fertility and productivity of the local farming district.
Nominations for the dryland winter crop competition for prime hard and durum wheat, barley and chickpeas are now being accepted and will close on Friday 6th October.
For further information, contact Graham Cooke on 0429 328 681 or email homewardvale1@activ8.net.au
