New Crop Varieties for 2019

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

Wheat

DS Bennett

  • Released for 2019

  • Marketed by Dow Seeds

  • ASW Classification

  • EPR $4.25, no grower to grower trading allowed

  • Awnless winter wheat, longer maturity than Wedgetail

  • Stripe Rust resistance, R

  • Yellow Leaf Spot resistance, MR-MS

  • May have a fit in very long season environments or in frosty areas where an awnless variety may provide a better hay option

  • Grazing may be required to prevent lodging

  • Unlikely to suit most clients due to long growing season and ASW classification

Illabo

  • Released for 2019

  • Marketed by AGT

  • APH Classification

  • EPR $3.50, seed sharing permitted between growers

  • Winter wheat, 2-3 days shorter maturity compared to Wedgetail

  • Stripe Rust resistance, R-MR

  • Yellow Leaf Spot resistance, MS

  • Possible Wedgetail or Kittyhawk replacement. For those who have already changed to Kittyhawk for improved stripe rust resistance over Wedgetail, Illabo probably doesn’t have anything further to add, unless future trial data demonstrates a significant yield benefit.

Canola

Pioneer 45Y93

  • Released for 2019

  • Hybrid Clearfield

  • Mid maturity, similar to ATR Gem

  • Blackleg rating, R

  • Blackleg resistance group, B & C

  • Potential replacement for 45Y91 (CL) in higher rainfall environments

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

Wheat

Beckom

  • Released 2016

  • AH classification

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

  • Appears to have coped well with tough conditions in 2017 and 2018

  • Has performed very well in National Variety Trials

  • Has demonstrated consistent yields from a range of sowing dates

  • Has relatively uneven head maturity, which reduces the impact of frost and heat stress on yield

Scepter

  • Released 2015

  • AH classification

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

  • Appears to maintain yield and grain size under tough conditions

  • Has performed very well in National Variety Trials

  • Good acid soil tolerance, plus some evidence of tolerance to sodicity

  • Stripe Rust resistance, MS-S, requires fungicide treatment if conditions are favourable for disease

Trojan

  • Released 2014

  • APW classification

  • Large grain size, fairly compact plant type

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

  • Has performed very well in National Variety Trials

  • A possible replacement for EGA Gregory due to it’s improved yield

  • APW classification means it is more suited to growers with on-farm storage, who are likely to be selling into a domestic feed market. For those delivering into the central receival system, Coolah may be preferable

Coolah

  • Released 2016

  • APH Classification

  • Consistent yield improvement over EGA Gregory

  • Has performed very well in National Variety Trials

  • Slightly shorter than EGA Gregory and hence more resistant to lodging

  • Has slightly better disease resistance than EGA Gregory, but is less tolerant of acid soils

  • Preferable alternative to Trojan, where the APH classification is desirable for those delivering into the central receival system

Barley

RGT Planet

  • Released 2017

  • Potential Malt classification in Australia, though already classified as Malt in international markets

  • Very high yield potential under favourable conditions

  • Appears to be coping well with tough conditions during 2018

  • Some early indications of tolerance to soil sodicity, providing access to deeper soil water

  • Very vigorous growth habit which provides good competition against weeds, so not suitable for under-sowing pasture

Spartacus CL

  • Released 2017

  • Malt barley

  • Very similar to La Trobe, with added Clearfield tolerance

  • Clearfield tolerance allows Intervix herbicide use for wild oats, brome or barley grass management.

  • Provides an option following applications of Clearfield or other group B herbicides during 2018

  • Whilst the Group B herbicides do provide an additional weed control tool, they have long plant back periods to pulses and non-Clearfield canola, hence they do not fit well in most rotations, particularly for application on barley which is likely to be followed by a pulse then canola.

Canola

Yields from hybrid TT canola varieties are becoming more stable. Should they consistently out yield open pollinated TT varieties over the next 2-3 years, it is likely that hybrid TTs will be more widely grown. In the short term, it would be prudent for growers to trial smaller areas of hybrid TTs alongside open pollinated TTs, to make direct comparisons on their own farm.

ATR Wahoo

  • Open pollinated Triazine Tolerant

  • Longer maturity than ATR Gem and ATR Bonito

  • Blackleg resistance, MS (bare seed)

  • Blackleg resistance group, A

  • Has performed well in higher rainfall, longer growing season environments

  • The longest season variety of the open pollinated TTs, it is suited to early sowing opportunities

Pioneer 45T03

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Mid maturity alternative to ATR Bonito or ATR Gem

  • Claimed Provisional Blackleg rating, R (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 44T02

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Mid maturity alternative to ATR Bonito or ATR Stingray

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, ABD

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

BASF InVigor T 4510

  • Marketed by BASF

  • Mid to early maturity

  • Blackleg rating, R (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, BF

  • An alternative to ATR Bonito or ATR Stingray

  • Has performed very well in both trial and paddock situations, possibly the pick of the hybrid TT varieties

SF Turbine TT

  • Marketed by Seed Force

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Mid maturity alternative to ATR Bonito

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

  • Blackleg resistance group, BF

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

SF Ignite TT

  • Marketed by Seed Force

  • Hybrid Triazine Tolerant

  • Mid-late maturity alternative to ATR Wahoo

  • Claimed Blackleg rating, MR (Jockey treated)

  • Blackleg resistance group, BF

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

SF Edimax CL

  • Marketed by Seed Force

  • 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

  • A possible alternative to Hyola 970 CL in higher rainfall environments

The above information has been derived from several sources, including NSW Department of Primary Industries Winter Crop Variety Sowing Guide 2018, plus GRDC 2018 Spring Blackleg Management Guide.

CroppingLiz KelleherRural Management Strategies