Longer lasting wheat to fuel flexible farms

22 Sep 2009

Industry & Investment NSW researchers Matt Newell, Cowra and Richard Hayes, Wagga Wagga say perennial wheat is more than just a blue sky concept.

A bold new project to introduce perennial wheat to local farms has the potential to address climate variability by putting extra flexibility into farming systems.

Through the Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FFI CRC), Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW, CSIRO, Charles Sturt University, Landmark and local farmers are working to develop the new technology.

I&I NSW research agronomist, Richard Hayes, said field trials at Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station have identified some imported lines which have been able to survive into a second year of production.

"130 lines of perennial wheat from China, Russia, Argentina, the Kansas Land Institute and Washington State University are being assessed under irrigation - our hot summers are a challenge to their survival," Mr Hayes said.

"Were also trialling 60 lines on a local dryland farm and by the end of this three-year project we should have some solid results on which to base further research."

Perennial wheat potentially offers farmers increased flexibility especially in mixed farming systems where the crop can be grazed and harvested as a grain crop, depending on the season.

In lower rainfall areas, particularly in drought years, perennial cereals may allow farmers to vary their inputs, reduce costs and add flexibility to their systems

A perennial crop which is in the ground for a number of years must resist disease and theres good news on that front - the imported lines have resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus, barley yellow dwarf virus and the three wheat rusts.

FFI CRC research director, Mike Ewing, said that perennial grain crops which dont require annual sowing could minimise inputs and offer environmental benefits.

"A crop growing in the field for several years can take advantage of every drop of rain that falls which will also help increase soil moisture use, reduce soil acidification and salinisation with the potential to reduce erosion," Dr Ewing said.

"It's a longterm project and if we have to breed varieties to suit Australian conditions were talking at least 10 years to deliver the technology."

Contact Richard Hayes at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute (02) 6938 1615 for more information.

Digital photographs available bernadette.york@industry.nsw.gov.au

Longer lasting wheat to fuel flexible farms

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