The NSW Department of Primary Industries has released its crop variety update with a list of newer varieties and potential releases for 2023.
The list includes newer wheat, barley and oat varieties and possible new releases for 2023, pending classification and seed supply.
The information has been collated from breeding company information.
For 2023 potential releases, further and more detailed information is available from those respective breeding companies.
Growers should be aware that some key diseases now have regionally based pathotypes, so variety reactions to a disease can vary depending on region and note that all classifications/ratings in the listing are preliminary and subject to final review.
There are five long season wheat varieties, including the new RGT Waugh variety, six early season wheat, including the new LongReach Scotch variety, and 14 main season wheat varieties, including the new Brumby, Jillaroo, BASF Kingston, LongReach Anvil CL Plus, Rebel Rat and BASF Reilly varieties on the list.
A total of 10 barley varieties have been listed, including the new ones Fandaga, Titan AX and Zena CL, along with three oats varieties Bilby, Koala (new) and Kowari.
Fourteen new canola varieties will be on the market for 2023: one conventional, six triazine tolerant, two Clearfield, three TruFlex (RR), one TruFlex + Clearfield variety, and one Clearfield + triazine tolerant variety.
There is also a list of pulses, including newer chickpea, faba bean, field pea and lupin varieties and possible new releases for 2023, pending seed supply.
There are four Desi chickpea varieties listed, along with three Kabull varieties, three northern NSW and three southern NSW faba bean varieties.
Four Kaspa-type field pea varieties, along with one each of the Dimpled type dun and Blue seeded varieties.
Three narrow-leaf lupin varieties, including the new Lawler, and one Albus varity are also listed.
Grain yield data and disease ratings are shown in tables using the GRDC’s National Variety Trial (NVT) Program.
The disease ratings are from the NVT national disease screening program and also from the nominated crop breeding companies.
Former NSW Agriculture agronomist John Lacy, who is now an independent agriculture consultant based in Finley, has indicated “it looks as if we are into a period of dry, and hopefully low rain, which will enable a good harvest crack at canola”.
With that in mind, Mr Lacy has warned all farmers to be careful pulling headers or other equipment out of bogs.
He has indicated that synthetic rope-based pulling is safer than chain and steel tackles.
“You need to work in a straight line, pull and use smooth even acceleration,” Mr Lacy said.
“Jerking creates high shock loads.”
Mr Lacy has asked farmers to assume shackles or connectors may fail, and as such position themselves “so you are safe”.