The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia has reaffirmed that farmer to farmer trading of its new malting barley varieties Baudin and Hamelin is permitted in Western Australia.

Barley industry development officer Alaina Garthwaite said recent reports on Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) had created some confusion about the trading regulations for seed of the new varieties.

Ms Garthwaite said Baudin and Hamelin barley were protected by PBR, meaning that the licensee sets the terms and conditions for the use of these varieties. 

“In Western Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Agriculture are the seed licencees and Baudin seed is free to trade from farmer to farmer in Western Australia.   However, in the Eastern States where the seed licence for Baudin is held by AWB Seeds, farmer to farmer trading is not permitted,” she said.

“Hamelin seed is free to trade in Western Australia and has not been commercially released in other states.”

Ms Garthwaite said Hamelin and Baudin were subject to crop improvement royalties (CIR), otherwise known as end point royalties, for every tonne of grain produced and sold by growers.

In WA, Baudin and Hamelin are subject to a $3/ tonne CIR for grain delivered for malting and $1/ tonne for grain delivered as feed.  In the eastern states, an additional collection fee of 50 cents is also applicable.

Detailed information about Plant Breeders Rights and trading conditions of field crops in Western Australia is provided in the 2005 Crop Variety Sowing Guide available on-line at www.agric.wa.gov.au.