Last year he won the Wallendbeen Wheat Crop Competition before taking out the Southern Region Competition. 

This elevated him into the state competition which involves four regions. 

While he was unsuccessful, the property owners with the top five crops in each region vie for the Farming Excellence Award; an honour which focuses on overall management of a property rather than simply yield. 

A shocked Mr Baldry accepted the award at an ASC of NSW event last Saturday paying tribute to his team, including manager Paul Edwards. 

“We are always trying to move forward and learn and do everything a little bit better,” Mr Baldry said. 

“We hope we can continue to keep heading in the right direction and at the same time enjoying what we do,” he continued. 

Judge and agronomist Paul Parker said his attention to detail is what set Mr Baldry apart from the other contestants.

Wallendbeen is widely regarded as lucky country for its strong potential to grow high-yielding crops, however Mr Parker assures people it takes more than good rainfall, good soil and a mild finish to create top crops. 

“You need good management as well,” he said. 

Mr Baldry and his team at ‘Macdoon’ grow lucerne, clover and phalaris during their five to six year pasture phase to build organic matter and nitrogen in the soil before they switch into a cropping phase.