Fourth-generation farmers Hugh and Jock Brownhill have been named the 2025 Bayer Cotton Growers of the Year, crediting family knowledge and teamwork for their success at Merrilong Agricultural Company.

The prestigious cotton industry awards were announced at the Awards Dinner during the Cotton Collective in Toowoomba, recognising excellence across multiple categories within Australia's cotton sector.

The Brownhill brothers represent a farming legacy that began when their grandparents established their enterprise in the NSW Liverpool Plains in 1959. Today, Hugh and Jock, alongside cousins Oscar and Archie Brownhill, serve as directors of Merrilong, managing 1,200 hectares of dryland cotton and 320 hectares under irrigation.

"We have a strong team, and they are the heartbeat of our organisation," Hugh Brownhill said. "Our work colleagues are like family to us, and we communicate with them regularly to ensure we achieve our shared goals."

The operation focuses predominantly on dryland cotton, taking advantage of the region's reliable rainfall and quality soils. Hugh emphasised their commitment to sustainable farming practices, noting that soil preservation and strategic management are key to increasing yields whilst reducing inputs.

The family employs an external advisory board to assist with farming and business decisions—a strategy they describe as a game-changer that allows them to concentrate on on-farm operations.

Tyson and Rosie Armitage from Cecil Plains on the Darling Downs received the AgriRisk High Achiever Award for their management of the Wamara Farming Trust's daily operations, working closely with parents Stuart and Maxine Armitage.

The couple has achieved remarkable success in Integrated Pest Management, spraying for pests in cotton only once over three years. They have also improved water efficiency, saving up to one megalitre per hectare through strategic late-season planting whilst maintaining or improving yields.

"We aim to apply only what the crops need, avoiding over-application," Tyson said, praising long-time agronomists Matthew Holding and Liz Lobsey, who maintain a comprehensive 20-year database of nutrient inputs and crop removal rates.

Grace Griffiths, a cotton grower, agronomist and Geographic Information System specialist with Digital Ag Technologies in Goondiwindi, won the CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award.

Griffiths began her cotton journey at 16 by leading her family farm's myBMP certification and later founded 101 Ag Pathways to promote agricultural careers. Named Goondiwindi's Young Citizen of the Year in 2024, she serves as CGA events president and focuses on simplifying carbon discussions for growers.

Dr Murray Sharman, Principal Plant Pathologist (Virology) at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, received the Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year Award for his national virology diagnostics and research work, playing a crucial role in biosecurity preparedness.

The Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Service to the Cotton Industry Award went to Andrew Watson, the 2008 Cotton Grower of the Year, recognised for his tireless efforts in improving cotton's reputation in Australia.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay praised Watson's leadership in Integrated Pest Management strategies and biodiversity efforts, including native grass and tree regeneration along the Namoi River, and his pioneering work in water-use efficiency strategies adopted by growers nationwide.

"We are seeing due recognition of the next generation of cotton growers," Kay said.

"Both our Bayer Grower of the Year and AgriRisk High Achiever have incredible knowledge passed down from their parents, who continue to provide the benefits of decades of cotton growing experience."