Grain growers now have access to the 2013 Wheat Variety Guide to assist them in deciding which variety will best suit their cropping program.
The Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) has released the guide, co-funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), to enable growers to select varieties tailored for their region.
Department Grains Industry executive director Mark Sweetingham said the cereal industry was the largest agricultural sector in Western Australia and wheat was the dominant crop with an export value of A$1,881 million in 2011-12.
“It is vital we provide grain growers with a valuable tool to guide them through a complex process for them to get the best value from their wheat production,” Dr Sweetingham said.
Department research officer for the Wheat Agronomy Group Brenda Shackley said the guide contained the latest yield and disease information on the current varieties in Western Australia.
“Growers can use this to review any changes for the current season or plan for the next season,” Ms Shackley said.
“Before adopting a new variety it is important to consider why you want to replace existing varieties and if the new variety meets your needs.”
The 2013 guide also includes features such as:
- How new varieties may complement or provide viable alternatives to Mace.
- Sprouting tolerance and an explanation of the new Falling Number Index rating.
- An easy to view long-term summary of predicted yields of varieties in the NVT trials, variety description summary and disease resistance ratings for wheat varieties grown in WA.
The 2013 Wheat Variety Guide has been mailed to growers through the GRDC network. It is also available from the DAFWA website agric.wa.gov.au by searching “bulletin 4839”.
Media contact: Jodie Thomson, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937