Peter and Renee Burke win The Weekly Times Coles 2019 Farmer of the Year

Cropping farmers Peter and Renee Burke, from southern NSW, have been crowned The Weekly Times Coles 2019 Farmer of the Year. See all the category winners here.

A NSW couple whose business has thrived in the face of drought and reduced water availability has been judged Australia’s best farmers.

Peter and Renee Burke, from Jerilderie in southern NSW, took out top honours in The Weekly Times Coles 2019 Farmer of the Year awards, announced at a gala event in Melbourne tonight.

Top of the crops: Peter and Renee Burke on their farm at Jerilderie in southern NSW. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The Burkes were recognised for their innovative approach to farming and budgeting in 2019. In a year when most of the state was in drought, and with just a handful of water entitlements, the couple managed to produce a whopping 6000 tonnes of grain and 8000 bales of hay and straw from their 1282 hectares.

The secret to the Burkes’ success was leasing water instead of buying it, which insulated their business from poor water allocations. It also enabled them to grow full-potential crops in a year when a drought-led shortage of grain pushed up prices — allowing for maximum returns.

“It is a recipe that is working well financially so why change it for the sake of it,” Mr Burke said.

Peter and Renee Burke with their twin daughters Sienna and Jasmine. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The Weekly Times Coles Farmer of the Year awards honour the best in beef, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep and niche. Another NSW winner was the Perry family of Trent Bridge Wagyu stud at Aberfoyle, near Armidale, who triumphed in the beef category.

The awards attracted finalists from NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

Victoria was represented by dairy winners Mick and Paula Hughes, from Inverloch, horticulture winner Jason Shields from Plunkett Orchards at Ardmona, the Olsen family of Soilkee at Hallora, who won the Farm Magazine Innovative Farmer of the Year, and Duncan and Jess Barber of Meltcalfe who took out top sheep honours.

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

THE WINNERS

FARMER OF THE YEAR & CROPPING FARMER OF THE YEAR

Peter and Renee Burke, Jerilderie NSW

BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR

Perry Family, Trent Bridge Wagyu, Aberfoyle NSW

DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR

Mick and Paula Hughes, Inverloch VIC

HORTICULTURE FARMER OF THE YEAR

Jason Shields, Plunkett Orchards, Ardmona VIC

FARM MAGAZINE INNOVATIVE FARMER OF THE YEAR

Olsen Family, Soilkee, Hallora VIC

SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR

Duncan and Jess Barber, Metcalfe VIC

Read more about the winners in a special 32-page magazine, free* in The Weekly Times on February 27.

MORE: THE FINALISTS

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS

*The Weekly Times $2.90 (VIC/Riverina)