South Perth, Western Australia
May 17, 2012
Wheat growers still waiting to plant can tap into an improved version of the new Flower Power computer model, to reduce the risk of crop losses from frost and heat stress.
The number of sites and varieties included in Flower Power, launched by the Department of Agriculture and Food earlier this year, have been increased across the wheatbelt.
Darshan Sharma and Mario D’Antuono, Department of Agriculture and Food developers of the new wheat phenology model used by the Flower Power tool
Department research officer Brenda Shackley suggests the new information will assist growers to make better decisions about their cropping program based on more detailed, localised information.
“The number of sites has been increased from five regional centres to 25, from Chapman in the north, to Yilgarn South in the east, Salmon Gums in the south east, Katanning in the Great Southern and all points in between,” Ms Shackley said.
“The five major varieties were included in the original version, including Mace, Magenta, Calingiri, Yitpi and Wyalkatchem, but now another 26 have been added into the mix, making a total of 31 varieties.”
The free online tool, developed though funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the department, has been designed to be as user friendly as possible, requiring users to input their location and variety to determine an optimum planting time.
“Growers can use Flower Power to predict when particular varieties will flower according to their planting date, so growers can minimise the risk of their crop suffering yield losses from frost or heat by sowing at the best time,” Ms Shackley said.
Flower Power can be accessed from the department’s homepage at www.agric.wa.gov.au
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