Winter crop variety sowing guide 2015 now available
9 Apr 2015
The 2015 edition of the popular Winter crop variety sowing guide published by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is now available to assist growers with their cropping decisions this season.
DPI grain technical specialist, Peter Matthews said the Winter crop variety sowing guide aims to assist growers to make better decisions and to select the most suitable variety for their farming system.
"The guide contains updated technical information from the latest research and industry programs on major winter crops including, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, cereal rye, canola, chickpeas, faba beans, field peas and lupins," Mr Matthews said.
"Research results on yield performance and disease data are provided from the National Variety Testing program, which is a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) initiative.
"In spring 2014 six new milling wheat varieties and three new long season winter feed wheat varieties were released.
"Three new potential malting barley varieties were also released, which are in the early stages of malt accreditation and some have limited quantities of seed available in NSW for the 2015 sowing.
"Twelve new canola varieties have been released, bringing the total to 52 varieties available to growers. One new faba bean variety suited to southern NSW, and one narrow-leaf lupin has also been released.
"Growers are reminded that when they are considering a new variety, it is important to compare the yield potential, grain quality and disease resistances and tolerances with the currently grown varieties."
"The 2015 season has started much drier than 2014 but paddock preparation is well advanced with paddocks in need of a good rainfall event in April to allow sowing to get underway. Predictions of above average rainfall through April and May is encouraging," Mr Matthews said.
"The guide provides valuable information to growers on varieties susceptible to other cereal leaf diseases, including stem rust, leaf rust, crown rot, yellow leaf spot and barley powdery mildew and how to combat them to reduce production losses."
The Winter crop variety sowing guide 2015 is available from all major agribusiness stores, Local Land Services offices and DPI, and can be downloaded on the DPI website.
Media contact: Anne Brook 02 6763 1163 or 0477 358 305
