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. |