Tom and Phoebe Bull win The Weekly Times Coles 2018 Farmer of the Year

A NSW couple on a mission to produce the world’s best-tasting lamb chop have been judged Australia’s best farmers.

Top of the chops: Tom and Phoebe Bull on their farm at Holbrok in southern NSW. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

A NSW couple on a mission to produce the world’s best-tasting lamb chop have been judged Australia’s best farmers.

Tom and Phoebe Bull, from Holbrook in southern NSW, took out top honours in The Weekly Times Coles 2018 Farmer of the Year awards, announced at a gala event in Melbourne tonight.

The Bulls, who run 6000 ewes producing genetics for clients that will this year produce a whopping 800,000 lambs combined, were recognised for their efforts in breeding sheep for marbling — a key trait when it comes to meat eating quality.

With an aim to develop “the Wagyu of the lamb world”, the Bulls have conducted numerous trials in recent years to identify the best rams and ewes for marbling traits and breed from them.

They see a future where farmers are rewarded with significant premiums for producing top-shelf lamb.

Accepting their award tonight, Tom Bull said he had hope for the future of the industry.

“It’s an exciting time for agriculture,” he said.

“But I think we’ve got to get on the front foot. We’ve got to tell our story and tell it with passion.”

The Bulls’ hard work is paying dividends.

They have Australia’s top 100 recorded rams for marbling and plan to have branded lamb for sale in China, Japan and top-end Melbourne and Sydney markets this year.

The Weekly Times Coles Farmer of the Year awards honour the best in beef, cropping, dairy, horticulture, sheep and niche.

Other NSW winners were Ben and Wendy Mayne from Texas Angus stud at Warialda, who triumphed in the beef category, and the Kahl family from Merced Farming at Wee Waa, who were named Cropping Farmer of the Year.

Victoria was represented by dairy winners Clint Theodore and Brooke Lane, from Alvie, and Anita Watt from Glenelg River Herbs at Balmoral, who won the Farm Magazine Innovative Farmer of the Year.

The Scurr family of Piñata Farms at Wamuran in Queensland was named Horticulture Farmer of the Year.

Every mainland state was represented by finalists. Each category winner received $5000 with the overall Farmer of the Year collecting a further $10,000.

The winners:

THE WEEKLY TIMES COLES 2018 FARMER OF THE YEAR AND SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR

Tom and Phoebe Bull, Lambpro, Holbrook NSW

BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR

Ben and Wendy Mayne, Texas Angus, Warialda NSW

CROPPING FARMER OF THE YEAR

Kahl Family, Merced Farming, Wee Waa NSW

DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR

Clint Theodore and Brooke Lane, Alvie VIC

FARM MAGAZINE INNOVATIVE FARMER OF THE YEAR

Anita Watt, Glenelg River Herbs, Balmoral VIC

HORTICULTURE FARMER OF THE YEAR

Scurr Family, Pinata Farms, Wamuran QLD