Producers best in field

A LARGE contingent of farmers from Queensland and northern NSW are in the running to be named Australia’s best.

Finalists in The Weekly Times Coles 2018 Farmer of the Year awards were announced on Wednesday.

The prestigious awards, now in their seventh year, honour the best in beef, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep and niche.

Winners will be announced by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Olympian and TV personality Giaan Rooney at a gala event in Melbourne next Friday, February 22.

Of the 18 farming businesses short-listed this year, three hail from Queensland and two from northern NSW.

Among the northern farmers short-listed this year are Anthony and Chantal Winter, from Macquarie Wagyu at Leyburn in Queensland, and Ben and Wendy Mayne, of Texas Angus at Warialda, in NSW, who will compete in the beef category.

The Scurr family of Pinata

Farms at Wamuran, and Darren and Linda Zunker of Windhum Farms at Bundaberg have been named finalists in the horticulture category, while the Kahl family, from Merced Farming at Wee Waa

in northern NSW, is in the running for Cropping Farmer of the Year.

Each category winner receives $5000 with the overall Farmer of the Year collecting a further $10,000.

PHOTO: DAVID MARTINELLI FINALISTS: Anthony and Chantal Winter of Macquarie Wagyu at Leyburn, south of Toowoomba, in Southeast Queensland have been nominated in the beef farmer category.