New Crop Varieties for 2018

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Following is a selection of crop varieties released recently, which are worthy of consideration next year: WHEAT

Longsword (RAC 2341)

  • Released for 2018

  • Marketed by AGT

  • Classification pending

  • EPR TBA, depending on classification, seed sharing permitted between growers

  • Winter wheat, with faster maturity once cold requirement is satisfied

  • Stripe Rust resistance, R-MR

  • Yellow Leaf Spot resistance, MR-MS

  • Possible Wedgetail replacement, more suited to medium rainfall environments

Longreach Mustang

  • Released for 2018

  • Marketed by Pacific Seeds

  • APH in southern NSW

  • $4.25/t EPR, no grower to grower trading allowed

  • Quick maturity, similar to Spitfire

  • Stripe Rust resistance, R-MR

  • Yellow Leaf Spot resistance, MS-S

  • Claimed large grain size and modest growth habit, which may suit high fertility situations such as following a legume pasture or brown manure fallow

BARLEY

RGT Planet

  • Released 2017

  • Marketed by Seed Force

  • Potential Malt classification, results pending March 2018

  • $4.00/t EPR, no grower to grower trading allowed

  • Medium to long season maturity, similar to Commander

  • Spot Form Net Blotch resistance, S-VS which may require fungicide treatment under conducive conditions

  • Net Form Net Blotch resistance, S

  • Scald resistance, S

  • Performed very well in 2016 NVT across NSW

  • Vigorous growth habit may provide good competition with weeds, but unlikely to be suitable for under-sowing with pasture

Spartacus CL

  • Released 2017

  • Marketed by Syngenta

  • Potential Malt classification, results pending March 2018

  • $4.25/t EPR, no grower to grower trading allowed

  • Fast maturing variety, similar to La Trobe

  • Spot Form Net Blotch resistance, S-VS, which may require fungicide treatment under conducive conditions

  • Net Form Net Blotch resistance, MR & S depending on regional pathotype

  • Scald resistance, VS

  • Clearfield tolerance allows Intervix herbicide use for brome or barley grass management. Provides an option following applications of Clearfield herbicides in dry years. Otherwise very similar to La Trobe

CANOLA

Pioneer 43Y92

  • Released for 2018

  • Hybrid Clearfield

  • Early maturity, similar to ATR Stingray

  • Blackleg rating TBA

  • Blackleg resistance group TBA

  • Short season hybrid, possibly suited to low rainfall environments

Hyola 350TT

  • Released for 2018

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Quick maturity similar to ATR Stingray

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, ABDF

  • Short season hybrid TT, possibly suited to low rainfall environments

Following are some comments on existing varieties for the purpose of comparison:

WHEAT

LongReach Flanker

  • Released 2017

  • APH

  • Looks very similar to EGA Gregory

  • Very tall

  • Has performed similarly to Gregory in limited testing

  • Hard to justify replacing Gregory given marginal differences

LongReach Kittyhawk

  • Released 2017

  • APH classification

  • Limited testing in 2016, several comparison strips have been done in 2017

  • Improved Stripe Rust resistance (R-MR) compared to Wedgetail

  • Looks very similar to Wedgetail while vegetative

  • Appears to have tolerated grazing plus dry conditions

Beckom

  • Released 2016

  • AH classification

  • Increased area sown in 2017, following positive results in 2016

  • Short stature, compact heads, high harvest index

  • Appears to have coped well with tough conditions in 2017

LongReach Trojan

  • Released 2014

  • APW classification

  • Mid to long season maturity

  • Large grain size, fairly compact plant type

  • Moderately short with good straw strength

  • Stable yield from a range of sowing dates, with high yield potential from late April sowing

Condo

  • Released 2015

  • AH classification

  • Increased area sown in 2017, following positive results in 2016

  • Very quick maturing

  • Vigorous early growth, though doesn’t produce many tillers/plant

  • Tall plant type with medium straw strength

The following table gives indicative wheat sowing times for Southern NSW:

Wheat-sowing-times-2.jpg

BARLEY

La Trobe

  • Malt barley

  • Has replaced Hindmarsh as most popular barley variety in NSW due to malt quality

  • Very high yield potential and good harvest index

  • Quick maturity and upright growth habit suits under-sowing with pasture

Compass

  • Feed barley, pending malt accreditation in March 2018

  • Mid to late maturity, which suits late April – early May sowing

  • More widely adapted than Commander, suited to softer environments east of the Olympic Highway

  • Much more competitive than Hindmarsh or La Trobe

  • Not suitable for under-sowing with pasture

CANOLA

ATR Gem

  • Open pollinated Triazine Tolerant

  • Blackleg resistance no longer tested, MR-MS in 2016

  • Blackleg resistance group, A

  • Has been a consistent performer, now largely replaced by ATR Bonito

ATR Bonito

  • Open pollinated Triazine Tolerant

  • Similar to ATR Gem, slightly quicker maturity

  • Blackleg resistance, MS (bare seed)

  • Blackleg resistance group, A

  • Performs well across a range of seasons and environments

  • Now the most widely grown variety throughout NSW

  • Blackleg rating needs to be considered in context of environmental conditions, paddock history and proximity to previous stubbles

ATR Stingray

  • Open pollinated Triazine Tolerant

  • Blackleg resistance, MR (bare seed)

  • Blackleg resistance group, C, being different to other Nuseed varieties

  • Performs very well in low to medium rainfall environments

  • Can also achieve high yields in favourable conditions

  • Low biomass with high harvest index

  • Less competitive with weeds

ATR Mako

  • Open pollinated Triazine Tolerant

  • Similar to ATR Bonito, slightly quicker maturity

  • Blackleg resistance, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, A

ATR Wahoo

  • Open pollinated Triazine Tolerant

  • Longer maturity than ATR Gem

  • Blackleg resistance, MR-MS (bare seed)

  • Blackleg resistance group, A

  • High yield potential, but more suited to high rainfall areas

Pioneer 44Y90

  • Hybrid Clearfield

  • Early-Mid maturity replacement for 44Y89

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, B

Pioneer 45T01

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Mid maturity alternative to ATR Bonito

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, R-MR (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, AB

  • An alternative TT variety in high yielding environments where Blackleg pressure on ATR Bonito is considered high risk

Pioneer 45Y91

  • Hybrid Clearfield

  • Mid maturity replacement for 45Y88

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, B

SF Turbine TT

  • Marketed by Seed Force

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Mid maturity alternative to ATR Bonito

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, BF

  • An alternative TT variety where blackleg pressure on ATR Bonito is considered high risk

SF Edimax CL

  • Hybrid Clearfield

  • Winter habit, can be sown from February to May

  • Much longer maturity compared to spring varieties

  • Blackleg resistance, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, C

  • Ability to graze if sown early

  • Suited to high rainfall environments

Hyola 970 CL

  • Hybrid Clearfield

  • Winter habit, can be sown from February to May

  • Much longer maturity compared to spring varieties

  • Blackleg resistance, R (bare seed)

  • Blackleg resistance group, H

  • Ability to graze if sown early

  • Suited to high rainfall environments

  • Windrow timing is generally much later than spring varieties

The above information has been derived from several sources, including NSW Department of Primary Industries winter crop variety sowing guide 2017, plus GRDC 2017 Spring Blackleg Management Guide.

CroppingLiz KelleherRural Management Strategies