The successful controlled release of the new soft wheat EGA 2248 has led to changes in the 2005 production agreement for Western Australian growers.

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia commercialisation officer Tresslyn Walmsley said the changes would enable the soft wheat industry to move forward, while ensuring that rigorous rust management remained in place.

Ms Walmsley said EGA 2248 was grown by 137 growers in 2004, with a total area of 1580 hectares. 

She said each grower had been required to enter into a production agreement which outlined a rust management package, a ban on prescribed varieties, inspection fees and limit on production area. 

“Compliance with the agreement has been excellent. All growers adhered to the pre-seeding and foliar fungicide requirements,” Ms Walmsley said. 

“The Department conducted paddock inspections of all contract growers during spring with an area representing 50 per cent of the total crop being inspected. Only very low levels of rust were detected in five crops.”

Ms Walmsley said in response to requests by the Soft Wheat Growers Association there would be a number of changes to the terms and conditions of the production agreement for 2005. 

She said the rust management package, $4 end point royalty and ban on Harrismith, Tincurrin and Corrigin would be maintained as per the current requirements.

The 100,000 hectare limit on total production would also be unchanged for 2005 to provide a safety net to the wider industry.  148 growers have applied for a 2005 EGA 2248 Production Agreement and it is projected that the total area of EGA 2248 will reach between 75,000 ha and 100,000ha this year. 

A production agreement administration fee of $100 will be applied and include the cost of random audit inspections by the Department. This will replace the rust inspection fee of $225.

The successful adoption of the management package last year means the restriction of 33 per cent of total wheat crop for EGA2248 would be marginally relaxed to 50 per cent.

The Department has mailed the information to growers this week. Growers should return their completed production agreements to the Department as quickly as possible.  Once the Department has received the paperwork, the certified seed will be authorised for release from the Eastern Districts Seed Cleaning Company in Kellerberrin.