His crop of VO71 - a relatively new cold tolerant variety - from last season was awarded the Port of Melbourne overall Highest Yield Award at last week’s 2023 Rice Industry Awards.
Justin was one of four nominees for the top prize, after initially topping the yields for Eastern Murray Valley district.
He and father Graeme had a yield result of 14.38 tonne per hectare from the crop of just over 46ha.
Helping them achieve the amazing result was their brother and son Matt Barker, who is an agronomist with Agri Vision Consultants.
Other nominees for the overall prize, and winners of yield awards in their irrigation districts, were:
• Western Murray Valley - Larnoo Nominees Pty Ltd, yielding 13.65T/ha on 239.99ha.
• Coleambally Irrigation Area - Lionola Farming, yielding 11.279T/ha on 48.89ha.
• Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area - Nathan and Kylie Ceccato, yielding 14.16T/ha on 149.30ha.
Justin said the award-winning result came down to the right conditions at the right time.
“It is the best crop I have ever grown by over a tonne per hectare, he said.
“It was a lot of luck.
“When rice hits pinnacle initiation and microspore it is very susceptible to the cold.
“But we did manage to get the crop in on time, by October 17, while a lot of other crops were sown late because of the wet conditions.”
Local growers were also recognised among the Yenda Producers Specialist Grain Yield Awards, also presented on the night.
Winners were as follows:
• Topaz highest grain yield - Knagge Family Trust, yielding 9.82T/ha on 45.57ha.
• Langi highest grain yield - Wayne and Janelle Sullivan, yielding 11.35T/ha on 57.86ha.
• Opus highest grain yield - Laurence and Pamela Beer, yielding 10.61T/ha on 30.62ha.
• Koshikari highest grain yield - Michael and Felicia Chalmers, yielding 7.23T/ha on 235.40ha.
The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the crop year 2023 SunRice Grower of the Year.
It went to Robert and April Andreazza of Willbriggie, just south of Griffith.
This award carries a prize in the form of a $2500 support package to help them further expand their business.
The Andreazzas are also now automatically nominated for the Australian Farmer of the Year (Kondinin Group).
The 2023 SunRice Grower of The Year Award is assessed on farm by a panel of three judges including two industry representatives and one independent judge and the 2022 Grower of the Year.
The panel assesses applications based on key areas: production and agronomy; water use efficiency; innovation and technology; business management; sustainability; work health and safety; and industry and community involvement.
The winner of the Excellence in Extension, Research and Advisory Award - recognising agronomists, advisors and researchers who have significantly contributed to advancing rice production - was Laurie Lewin.
Receiving the Grower Industry Contribution Award - to acknowledge an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the rice industry beyond their farming operations - was John Bonetti.
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