2018 Oat Variety Guide now available online
Growers considering sowing milling oats or export hay this year can find all the latest performance data in a recently released variety guide published on-line.
The 2018 Oats Variety Sowing Guide for Western Australia has been produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
It draws on results from the National Oat Breeding program, the department’s agronomy trials from across the grainbelt, the GRDC’s National Variety Trials, and information from commercial breeders and agronomists.
The guide is designed to help growers determine which milling oat or export hay variety to grow in their region.
Each variety has its own strengths, weaknesses and characteristics that determine their suitability for different locations.
The oat variety guide provides growers with a comparison of grain yield, grain quality, hay yield, hay quality, herbicide tolerance and disease resistance for new and established milling oat and hay varieties.
The guide also provides agronomic information for oat varieties that offer growers the best opportunity to meet market requirements.
The updated variety guide introduces information on new oat variety, Kowari, which was launched nationally in September 2017.
Kowari is a cross between Mitika and a WA breeding line developed as a Mitika replacement, particularly in South Australia. It was included in the department’s oat agronomy trials in 2017 to examine its potential application in WA. Agronomy research results on performance will be available early in 2018.
Kowari will undergo commercial milling evaluation prior to sowing this season and, if endorsed by industry, may be added to the list of varieties accepted for delivery into milling grades OAT1 and OAT2 in 2018/19.
The 2018 Oat Variety Sowing Guide should be read in conjunction with industry information provided in the Grains Industry of Western Australia's (GIWA) Oat Variety and Grade Update available on the GIWA website.
The 2018 Oat variety sowing guide for Western Australia is available on the department’s website.
For more information contact Georgia Trainor, Development Officer, Northam on +61 (0)8 9690 2083.