It was the Hinges first overall win in more than 20 years entering the long-running competition, and Alan Hinge attributes it to early sowing, a good nutritional program, and picking stones off the paddock.

The bumper crop, awarded 96 points out of 100, was also the highest-scoring in the medium-soil section, grown in a 40-hectare paddock of medium loam over sheets of limestone.

It was one of just two Janz crops among the 21 entries and received high praise from judge and Landmark agronomist Sam Densley for its yield potential and grain size.

"Despite not being 100 per cent uniform in height – with some off-types - and the odd milk thistle plant, the 6t/ha yield more than made up for it," he said.

"Grain size was good, indicating the head length and heads a metre of row will be an accurate indication of yield. I believe screenings will be quite low with this crop, too."

Alan and his wife Catherine, their son James, and daughters Gabrielle, Sarah and Louise, crop 1860ha hectares and run a self-replacing Merino sheep flock.

Their continuous cropping program includes lentils, canola, balansa clover, beans, lupins and oats for hay. A typical rotation is legumes followed by canola, then wheat and then back to legumes.

They have been growing Janz for the past eight years.

"It is one of the better-yielding ones over the past few years and it is not as susceptible to rust, although we did spray it in spring," Alan said.

He attributes much of Buckingham's cropping success to professional advice from agronomist, Southern Farming Group's Nick Hillier, who ensured the crop reached its potential and made the most of the 350 millimetres of rain they have received this year.

"Nick's work is independent," Alan said. "He works with a lot of top-class farmers throughout the area and is able to pass- on good information."