The crucial connection between grower and agronomist was highlighted at this year’s Darling Downs Cotton Grower (DDCGI) awards.
Brookstead-based Johannes and Scarlett Roellgen, “Tyunga” – located an hour west of Toowoomba – won the prestigious Darling Downs Cotton Grower of the Year award.
Meanwhile, their long-term agronomist Meteora Agronomic Consulting was named Consultant of the Year.
Since 2011, agronomist Liz Lobsey has worked for Meteora – which agronomist Matt Holding owns – and says the Roellgens have been clients of the consultancy for 22 years.
She says the German couple’s success comes from consistent rotations of irrigated cotton, corn, sorghum, wheat and mungbeans, using round-up ready varieties to help with weed management.
“They’re very progressive, excellent growers and it’s nice to see them get the recognition they deserve for what they’re doing,” Ms Lobsey said.
In a Cotton Australia video titled In Their Own Words, Mr Holding says the aim on “Tyunga” is to grow crops as short season and short stature as possible without compromising yield.
“I guess our goal is to use as little pix as possible, which is a result of balanced nutrition” Mr Holding said. “Don’t try to use too much nitrogen but not too little.
“We do a lot of nutrient monitoring where we look at what nutrients have been added or removed over time so we can see how our soil health is actually going.
“Johannes uses a lot of (feedlot) manures on his farm, as well as starter fertilisers.“
In other Darling Downs Cotton Grower awards, Bruce Vandersee was named Unsung Hero, while the High Achiever award went to the Skerman family at Dalby.
Dan Skerman also scooped a Consultant of the Year award for his work.
Cotton Seed Distributors agronomist and DDCGI secretary Larissa Holland won Young Achiever and John and Kylie Fuelling were recognised with the Darling Downs Cotton Growers Inc service to industry.
The DDCGI Greg McVeigh Memorial Trophy for yield and water use efficiency was presented to Greg and Maryann Bender for their 2.06 bales/ML result.
Ross Uebergang won the highest yield for irrigated cotton with his crop of 11.7 bales/ha, while Kurt and Luke Von Pein took out the dryland award for their 7.36 bales/ha.
DDCGI president Dave Walton congratulated award recipients and nominees after what he described as a long and challenging – but good – year of cotton farming.
“Our farmers have done a fantastic job to come through a very wet and drawn-out season on the Darling Downs,“ Mr Walton said.
“The judging team was very impressed with this year’s nominees and the calibre of the entries.
“All categories were tightly contested and the judges certainly had their work cut out finalising the winners – it was very close.
“Our farmers should be extremely proud of what they are doing and they deserve the recognition for all the hard work they have put into growing sustainable cotton.“
It is estimated that about 400,000 bales will be processed across three gins on the Darling Downs for the 2021-22 season, with ginning expected to finish by mid-December.
Honour Roll
* Grower of the Year: Rollegen family, Brookstead.
* Consultant of the Year: Meteora Agronomic Consulting.
* High Achiever of the Year: Skerman family, Dalby.
* Consultant of the Year: Dan Skerman.
* Young Achiever Award: Larissa Holland, CSD and DDCGI secretary.
* Unsung Hero Award: Bruce Vandersee.
* Darling Downs Cotton Growers Service To Industry: John and Kylie Fuelling.
* Darling Downs Cotton Growers Greg McVeigh Memorial Trophy for outstanding yield and water use efficiency: Greg and Maryann Bender – 2.06 bales/ML.
* Highest irrigated yield: Ross Uebergang – 11.7 bales/ha.
* Highest dryland yield: Kurt and Luke Von Pein – 7.36 bales/ha.
