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Field pea planning pays off for Western Australian growers
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.

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