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Western Australian growers cautioned about Possum oat classification
South Perth, Western Australia
March 11, 2005

The new South Australian milling oat Possum is being commercially evaluated to determine its suitability as a milling type in Western Australia (WA).

Possum was bred for the medium to high rainfall regions of south eastern Australia by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) but is currently not classified as a milling variety for Western Australia.

Western Oat Alliance Chairman Ray Marshall said the classification of Possum in WA would follow the commercial evaluation trials and was expected to be confirmed by early 2006.

Mr Marshall said possum seed had been incorrectly advertised as a milling type suitable for Western Australia. 

“WA growers are urged to proceed with caution with the sowing of Possum oats.  Possum will only be received as a feed variety through Agracorp at this stage,” Mr Marshall said

“Possum does have high digestibility, and high protein that would make the variety suitable as a good quality feed type.  However, the Department of Agriculture Cereal Variety Testing results for 2003 and 2004 have shown that the current feed varieties Dalyup and Wandering both outyield Possum under Western Australian conditions.” 

The Western Oat Alliance is the peak industry body for oats in Western Australia - representing growers, marketers, millers, feed merchants, hay exporters, research and development.  The Department of Agriculture is a member of the Alliance.

The Alliance strongly supports the release of varieties with improved agronomic, quality and market potential.

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