Hillston's Sheldon and Rebecca Dalton have been confirmed as regional champions in a prestigious annual wheat competition.
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Run by AgShows NSW, the Suncorp Bank Championship Dryland Field Wheat Competition is judged across four regions ahead of the state final, the western region seeing the Daltons' crop score the highest, followed closely by Redwin Farming in Barmedman and Karen and Paul Kaveney of Bribbaree who placed third in the region.
The Daltons' secured the top spot with 217 points and a yield of 7.2/ha.
President of AgShows NSW Tim Capp said that growing an 'optimal plant base' was a sure means of success in the competition.
"While the wheat competition is typically a yield-based competition, if a grower has made the best of the local season, spraying and feeding the crop to grow an optimal plant base it should perform well in the competition," Mr Capp said.
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One half of the winning duo Sheldon Dalton said it was both a 'surprise' and 'privilege' to win the western title in the competition.
"It's a fantastic competition and we feel very excited to have won," Mr Dalton said.
"We were really surprised because we are on the fringe in Hillston of the cropping range and don't receive as much rainfall as growers closer to the coast so we were just very fortunate."
According to Mr Dalton, their winning crop 'ticked all the boxes'.
"You can't predict growing conditions but we had a really lucky year with the rain," Mr Dalton said.
"It is absolutely fantastic to achieve what we have where we are located."
Past state dryland wheat state champions include Yarrabah Pastoral Company in 2020 from central New South Wales, Scott & Julia McLeod in 2019 from the south and Illinois Farms in 2018.
The Daltons' have also previously placed 2nd in the competition.
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