The 2025 Bayer Cotton Growers of the year, Merrilong Agricultural Company represented by brothers Hugh and Jock Brownhill, have credited the knowledge of their parents and grandparents, and the importance of teamwork for their Award recognition.
The 2025 cotton industry awards were announced at the Awards Dinner during the recent Cotton Collective, held in Toowoomba.
As fourth generation farmers, Hugh and Jock Brownhill are part of a farming legacy that began when their grandparents moved into the NSW Liverpool Plains area to begin a farming enterprise in 1959. Today, Hugh and his brother Jock, along with cousins Oscar and Archie Brownhill are Directors of Merrilong.
Hugh said his father and uncle taught him everything he knows about cotton and that focus on family and teamwork drive their ongoing success. “We have a strong team, and they are the heartbeat of our organisation. Our work colleagues are like family to us, and we communicate with them regularly to make sure we are on the same page, so that we achieve our shared goals.”
Hugh said the region is well-suited to growing dryland cotton. “The climate in this region is suited to majority dryland cotton because we have reliable rainfall and good soils. If we keep preserving and looking after what we have with management tools, crop choice and rotation, we expect to have better yields every year, with less inputs.”
The family employs an external advisory board to help make farming and business decisions which they describe as a game-changer, allowing them to focus on what’s happening on farm. Hugh said they are not motivated by awards but view their nomination as a privilege in an industry that promotes its product to the rest of the world.
Other major award winners recognised on the night included:
AgriRisk High Achiever Award – Tyson and Rosie Armitage, Cecil Plains, QLD.
CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever Award – Grace Griffiths, Goondiwindi, QLD.
CSD Researcher of the Year – Dr Murray Sharman, DAF QLD.
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Service to Industry Award – Andrew Watson, Boggabri, NSW.
Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay congratulated all award recipients, and every nominee, as extremely deserving given their high level of commitment to the industry.
August 2025