Source: MATTHEW CAWOOD – The Land

Cowra mixed farmer Ed Fagan has been awarded the 2015 NSW Farmer of the Year at an awards lunch in Sydney. The Fagan family’s 1602-hectare Mulyan Farm stretches the concept of “mixed farming”. The operation trades cattle, breeds and trades lambs, grows wheat, canola, maize, popcorn and oats and produces intensive horticultural crops including beetroot, asparagus, red and brown onions and baby spinach.

It was the professionalism that went into each aspect of the operation that impressed this year’s judges. The other finalists were South Coast oyster grower Ewan McAsh and Orange orchardists Bernard and Fiona Hall.

Mr McAsh impressed for providing a marketing platform that gives small oyster farmers critical mass and marketing reach, while the Halls’ Caernarvon Cherry business provides packing and marketing for 20 other orchardists in the region.