Media Releases 2008

November 2008

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Tilt approved for use on sunflowers

A chemical control for powdery mildew on sunflowers has now been approved for use.

A permit for the use of Tilt 250 in Queensland and NSW has been granted.

According to Pacific Seeds Summer Grains Agronomist, Trevor Philp this will give sunflower growers in affected areas another management technique for the problem.

Powdery mildew has been increasing in severity and occurrence on the later planted sunflower crops.

“Over this summer the QDPI, Syngenta and Pacific Seeds will be conducting trials to determine efficacy and timing,” Mr Philp said.

To see a copy of the permit which will outline more information on the conditions of use, click here.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Upgrade announcement gives growers Prime Hard options for '09 wheat

Central and southern New South Wales wheat growers planning for 2009 have a new Australian Prime Hard (APH) variety to consider following the recent upgrade of Pacific Seeds’ LongReach Crusader.

The upgrade of LongReach Crusader to APH in central and southern New South Wales and Queensland was decided at the last meeting of the national Wheat Variety Classification Panel for 2008.  The upgraded receival classification will apply to the 2009/2010 harvest.

LongReach Crusader had limited commercial release in 2008 under the Australian Hard (AH) classification in central and southern New South Wales.  The SNSW upgrade also means Crusader has an out-of-zone Australian Hard classification in Victoria.

The variety has had APH classification in Northern New South Wales since its release in 2007.

Crusader is a high yielding wheat, with quick maturity, good rust resistances and useful yellow leaf spot resistance.

Pacific Seeds’ wheat business manager Ben Adams said he expected the upgrade of Crusader to APH – the top quality, high protein milling classification - to be welcomed by growers.

“Crusader’s new classification as APH gives farmers the opportunity to earn top dollar for their grain,” Mr Adams said.

“Very few varieties get APH in southern New South Wales and even fewer quick maturity types.

“Crusader, in this respect, has been a long time coming.”

Collingullie grower Neil Durning’s irrigated production crop of Crusader displayed quick development following its late June planting.

“We planted it on June 25 and it emerged a week later in the first week of July. It then went into a month of solid frosts and still flowered in early to mid October. Mr Durning said.

The 53 hectare crop has endured a tough season with 30 degree temperatures and wind at late tillering, followed by 3 consecutive light frosts at flowering and minimal in crop rain.

Water has been applied with a centre pivot irrigator every three days or as required

“We will see what happens at harvest but I do like its short strong straw, particularly under irrigation,” Mr Durning said.

Hart Brothers Seeds’ (Junee) Bernard Hart said Crusader’s upgrade to APH would give an “immediate boost of confidence” to the new variety regarding its profile among growers.

“Now that seed will be available even more widely in 2009 I think it will find its home very quickly,” Mr Hart said.

“Crusader’s yellow leaf spot protection will be one of its big selling points and we will be looking at it quite closely to see how it performs,” Mr Hart said.

“We think it will fit in the low to medium rainfall belt.”

Mr Adams said the combination of the upgrade announcement and the increase of production seed following Crusader’s first season of commercial release would increase demand in 2009.

“Although the change won’t be effect until the 2009 harvest it is a timely announcement for growers wanting to plan ahead now for their seed requirements for next season,” Mr Adams said.

“I would advise growers interested in planting Crusader in 2009 to contact their regular seed supplier as soon as possible.”

Image Caption: Riverview, Collingullie grower Neil Durning in his crop of Crusader wheat.