Wheat Variety Update (November 2019)

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In recent years, varieties such as Gregory, Lancer, Trojan, Beckom and Scepter, along with a handful of others have performed well across a range of situations. If current varieties on hand do not present any major problems, there seems little reason to change for 2020. The most important thing is to have 2 to 3 cereal varieties which can be sown over a range of sowing times and situations. In most cases, paddock history and other management factors will have the greatest impact on yield. It is rare that genetic potential of a variety is the limiting factor.

An exception may be Kittyhawk, which appears to have a shorter vegetative phase when sown before mid-April, while still flowering later than varieties like Wylah, Wedgetail and Illabo. These characteristics make it more susceptible to stem frosting, plus over grazing which limits yield in a dry spring. Given this, Illabo, Wylah or Wedgetail may be better options for a grazing wheat.

Wheat varieties which have received recent publicity include:

Catapult – New release from AGT

  • AH

  • Mid-late maturity

  • Sown late April to mid May, has shown good yield stability in trials

  • Acid soil tolerant

DS Bennett

  • ASW

  • High yielding late maturing awnless winter variety

  • Suited to high rainfall regions for grazing, hay and grain production

  • Possible Naparoo replacement, matures earlier than Manning

 Illabo

  • APH

  • Mid-fast winter variety

  • Suited to grazing and grain production

  • Possible Wedgetail replacement, however is a few days faster to maturity. May be a better option than Kittyhawk due to longer vegetative phase, shorter reproductive phase and earlier flowering

LongReach Hellfire – New Release

  • APH

  • Mid-quick maturity similar to Spitfire

  • Similar protein accumulation to Spitfire

LongReach Nighthawk – New Release

  • AH

  • Slow maturing spring variety, early April sowing

  • Unsuitable for grazing due to poor recovery

  • Option to capitalise on early sowing opportunities in continuous cropping systems, however should not be sown after April. Catapult may be more suitable in this situation.

LongReach Mustang

  • APH

  • Mid-quick variety, similar to Spitfire

  • Claimed higher yield potential than Spitfire and Hellfire, with modest growth habit and less stubble load

 Razor CL Plus

  • ASW

  • Tolerant of Clearfield herbicides and residues

  • Similar maturity to Mace

 Rockstar – New Release from InterGrain

  • Unclassified grade

  • Mid-late maturity, similar to Trojan

  • Limited trial results available

 Sunchaser – New Release from AGT

  • APH

  • Maturity similar to Suntop, while being slightly higher yielding

  • Improved grain size compared to Suntop

 Vixen

  • AH

  • Very fast maturity, similar to Condo or Dart

  • Suited to late May sowing

  • High yield potential

CroppingFred BroughtonRural Management Strategies