South Perth,
Western Australia
May 5, 2006
More than 700 Western Australian growers have purchased and
bulked-up field pea seed ready to help push the State’s field
pea production area over 100,000 hectares this season.
Department
of Agriculture and Food researcher Mark Seymour (photo) said
the growers’ commitment to field peas should be rewarded this
year with less likelihood of disease impacting on yields.
Mr Seymour said the outlook for field peas was buoyed by good
summer rainfall and a greatly reduced threat of blackspot in
2006 crops.
“Unseasonal moisture has led to an early release of blackspot
spores which should have dispersed before sowing begins,” he
said.
“Blackspot levels in crops are, therefore, likely to be low and
can be best managed according to the Department’s rotation,
isolation and time of sowing guidelines.”
“To make the most of field peas in this and future years it is
important to plan where and when field pea paddocks will be
sown.”
Mr Seymour said the key to managing blackspot was sowing this
year’s crop more than 500 metres upwind of last year’s stubble.
“For many parts of Western Australia this is best done by
starting field pea rotations in the south-east corner of farms
and working towards the north-west,” he said.
“Farmers in the Scaddan area have worked together over the past
three years to successfully block plant field pea paddocks this
way, proving it can be done even when field peas account for
15-25 per cent of the total crop area.”
Over the coming weeks the Department’s website at
www.agric.wa.gov.au will contain advice for growers on the best
time to sow field peas this season at key locations.
Further information is also available in a new Farmnote Field
pea in the Great Southern with tips on how to grow and
harvest field peas. It provides specific advice on paddock
selection, blackspot management, time of sowing and weed control
for Great Southern areas and other general advice. |