growers@sgcotton.com.au Roger Tomkins - Greenmount Press

Nigel Corish and ‘Yambocully’:
2012 Cotton Grower of the Year
NIGEL Corish, ‘Yambocully’, Goondiwindi has been
honoured as the Monsanto 2012 Cotton Grower of the
Year, at the Annual Australian Cotton Industry Awards
night.
At a 70s themed dinner on the Gold Coast, with over 1000
guests, Nigel received his award from Monsanto Australia’s Daniel
Kruithoff and the CEO of The National Farmers Federation, Matt
Linnegar.
Nigel, who runs the 4800 hectare ‘Yambocully’ for the Corish
Family Partnership impressed the judges with his constant
achievement of high yields and ever improving water efficiency.
Attributing much of his success to the team environment
at ‘Yambocully’, Nigel paid tribute to his employees, and said
whatever the job, they all got stuck into getting the job done.
The convener of the judging panel, Geoff McIntyre, said it was
a well-integrated and coordinated dryland and irrigation farming
and grazing system.
“Nigel has extensive community involvement both through the
Gateway to Agribusiness program and the CRDC funded schools
project,” he said.
“He is also well advanced with myBMP, having achieved level
two across all categories.”
Geoff said the panel had been very impressed by the
contribution of all the finalists to the industry, and the hospitality
that they had been shown as the moved across NSW and QLD.
The other two finalists were Scott Brimblecome, ‘Ashwood
Farms’, St George and Steve Porter, ‘Cleveland’, Mungindi.
Cotton Grower of the Year recipient Nigel Corish (right) and
Jim O’Connor.
Murrumbidgee newcomer honoured
with High Achiever Award
The AgriRisk High Achiever Award, presented by
Deidre McCallum, went to southern NSW grower,
Mat Stott, ‘Point Farms’, Darlington Point.
With just two cotton crops under his belt, he impressed the
judges with his passion for the industry and the immediate
adoption of outstanding management practices including water
efficiency and farm hygiene.
Geoff McIntyre said the judges had been impressed with
the leadership shown in helping to establish the industry in the
Murrumbidgee.
“On his own farm he has successfully integrated cotton into a
very diverse farming system,” Geoff said.
“He has also demonstrated a really well developed
understanding of cotton agronomy and pest management, and
that has been demonstrated by the achievement of high yields.”
The panel had also been very impressed with the other two
finalists: Ian and Marilyn Carter, ‘Connamara Partnership’,
Quirindi and Scott Armstrong and Richard Ross, ‘Cooinda’, St
George.
Mat and Andrew Stott.
Jamie Iker receives Young Achiever
Award
Twenty-four year-old Emerald consultant Jamie
Iker has been awarded the Chris Lehmann Trust
Young Achiever Award sponsored by Bayer
Cropscience.
Jamie’s research into recovery options for flood damaged
cotton crops after the 2010–11 floods in Emerald has attracted a
lot of positive industry attention.
In addition he has been an extremely active promoter of
agricultural careers, regularly speaking to students at schools in
both Toowoomba and Emerald.
He’ll use his bursary to develop an industry video advocating
careers in the cotton industry.
Judging Panel convener Helen Dugdale said Jamie had
impressed the judges with both his achievements and his ideas
for the industry.
“He is just so encouraging to other young people in the
industry,” Helen said.
Helen also praised the very high calibre of the other two
finalists; Rod Smith, ‘Milchengowrie’, Boggabri and Andrew
O’Connor, ‘Strathguyle Farms’, Mungindi.
12 — The Australian Cottongrower August–September 2012