BELLATA dryland farmers Glenn and Rachel Fernance crowned a landmark 2025 season when they were named Dryland Field Wheat Champions at the Suncorp Bank AgShows NSW Dryland Field Wheat Competition Awards at Dubbo on Friday night.
The Fernances form part of a large family enterprise, with dryland operations across four properties in the Bellata district – Courallie Park, Boomerang, Albion Grove and Irragappa – with the award-winning bread wheat crop grown at Courallie Park.
The crop, at 9.2 tonnes per hectare, beat more than 370 entries from across New South Wales, with the bread wheat category regarded the hardest to win for farmers in the northern region.
“The southern areas are usually so hard to beat because they generally get a soft September finish,” Mr Fernance said.
“I’ve been close to winning this award in the past, but never got there until now,” he smiled.
Bellata dryland farmers Glenn and Rachel Fernance with Brendan Munn at the Suncorp Bank AgShows NSW Dryland Field Wheat Competition Awards at Dubbo (Image: AgShows NSW).
The Fernances are certainly no strangers to collecting AgShows NSW trophies.
They were named northern region wheat competition winners in 2018, New South Wales Farming Excellence Award winners the same year, and State Durum winners in 2021.
They started the 2025 season – one of the best on record for many wheat farmers in north-western New South Wales – with a win in the Moree Show Society local field wheat competition.
In October last year, the Fernances were named AgShows NSW Dryland Field Wheat Competition finalists for the northern region – along with Alistair McPherson, also from Bellata – before being crowned state winners on Friday.
Glenn Fernance with Moree Show Society president Brendan Munn when named regional finalist in October last year. (Image: Karen Munn).
Mr Fernance said the past two crops grown at Courallie Park have been exceptional.
“The last two years have been all-but records for us. The 2024 yield was good, but last year’s was better again,” he said.
“This was judged at 9.2 tonnes per hectare, and that is a long way in front for us compared to other years.
“We were probably two-and-a-half to three tonnes in front of what we’ve seen before – it was significantly better,” he said.
Mr Fernance said the advances in wheat varieties have played a big part in year-on-year yields.
“I grew a different variety this time, compared to the previous year,” he said.
Mr Fernance trialled Sundancer in 2024 and decide to plant the variety in 2025.
“I didn’t have a real favourable September in 2024 and this variety didn’t get to its full potential, but I thought, ‘if we can get the September rainfall this will blow everything away’.
“I took a punt growing it, and it certainly worked out for me,” he said.
“Part of the formula is having good nutrition and a great agronomist, and I’ve got that in Mitch Cuell from Outlook Ag at Narrabri.
“Also, timing of all operations have to be spot-on – it can’t be late and needs to be on time with everything, especially the sowing window,” he said.
“Each variety has a four-week window for planting. You have to be early for any variety – right at the front – and ideally in that first week rather than the second, third or fourth week.”
The Fernance family enterprise is vast. Along with father Ron and brother Mick, and their families, Glenn and Rachel grow a variety of dryland crops, including sorghum, wheat, chickpeas, durum, semolina, sunflower, cotton and occasionally canola.
Moree Show secretary, Karen Munn, who co-ordinates with growers, said the Fernances’ win at state level is a tremendous result for the local region.
“They are an amazing family, and this is great news for our region,” Mrs Munn said.
“Their wheat crop last season yielded more than nine tonnes per hectare – a massive achievement.”
The AgShows NSW Suncorp Dryland Field Wheat Competition Awards drew growers and stakeholders from across New South Wales, with guest speakers including Nick Poole, managing director from Field Applied Research in Bannockburn, Victoria.
The competition is decided across southern, northern, western and central regions of New South Wales, with the Fernances taking northern region honours.
Southern region winner was John Ingold from Cootamundra, with Patrick Hennessy, from Gunnedah, winning the central region competition.
Western region winner was Josh Male, from Peak Hill.
The 2025 TJ Dwyer Farming Excellence Award, which recognises outstanding commitment to best practice, innovation and excellence in agriculture, was won by Rowena’s John Stump, of Windella Ag Co.
The award acknowledges leadership and dedication in the agricultural sector and celebrates the positive contribution made to farming and the broader industry.
The 2025 ASC Durum Wheat Competition was won by Merrilong Pastoral Co, near Gunnedah and the 2025 Dedication Award, celebrating people behind the scenes across the vast AgShows NSW network, was won by Bruce Robinson, in recognition of his dedication to the Temora competition and district in general.
The inaugural Grain Sample Competition, recognising attention to detail, consistency and high standards in grain quality, was won by John Ingold, Cootamundra.
Well done and congratulations !!! Years of hard work and family dedication deserves the prestigious award..
Hugs Katrina