May 14, 2024
Wondai cotton grower Michael Stewart has been named a regional winner and finalist in the 2023-24 FastStart Cotton Establishment Awards.
Mr Stewart grows cotton under irrigation on a property adjacent to Barambah Creek.
He is one of 11 growers from across Australia announced as finalist in the awards earlier this month.
The regional winners, who were each presented with a $1000 gift card, were assessed on the establishment figures for their cotton crops.
Cotton Seed Distributors and Syngenta Australia – partners in the FastStart program – co-ordinate the awards as a way to encourage growers to use the program’s tools during the critical first 70 days of crop establishment.
“Winning is nice but what sets the cotton industry apart from some other sectors is the willingness to help others along the way, and what we’re really aiming to do is showcase the help growers can access to grow great cotton,” CSD Extension and Market Development Lead Peter White said.
The regional winners were:
- Darling Downs Qld – John Cameron, Pittsworth, Dryland
- South East Qld – Michael Stewart, Wondai, Irrigated
- Southern NSW – Sarah Parkes, Carrathool, Irrigated
- Gwydir NSW – Tim Leyfels, Moree, Dryland
- Namoi NSW – Will Turner, Edgeroi, Dryland
- Central Qld – Greg Kauter, Emerald, Irrigated
- Macintyre Qld – Shane Boardman, Goondiwindi, Dryland
- Macquarie Valley NSW – Jim Bible, Narromine, Irrigated
- Balonne NSW – Will Carrigan, Boomi, Irrigated
- Western Australia – Christian Bloecker, Kununurra, Irrigated
- Northern Territory – Tony Hayne, Douglas Daly, Dryland
