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At Nhill and Netherby in Victoria’s Wimmera, Nathan Wheeler favours InterGrain’s short season Australian Hard wheat variety, Emu Rock


Australia
March 12, 2014

Nathan Wheeler farms at two properties at Nhill and Netherby in Victoria’s Wimmera and both tend to experience dry spring finishes, which is why he favours InterGrain’s short season Australian Hard (AH) wheat variety, Emu Rock.

“Modern farming is all about managing risk and Emu Rock helps me manage mine by delivering at least a reasonable yielding crop, even in very tough years,” Mr Wheeler said.

This season will be his third growing Emu Rock, which he describes as “a tough wheat that has dependable grain size, hence screenings are never an issue and it’s also quite short, meaning no need to mulch straw post-harvest”, which suits his cropping program.

A dry spring and frost in parts made the 2013 growing season an average, with wheat yields, across both farms and all varieties, averaging 2.5 tonnes per hectare, as they missed the last crucial rain, with the wheat only filling two wide, not four, as he had hoped.

Emu Rock at his Netherby farm yielded 2.5t/ha and in ‘crab holes’, where moisture was conserved, the yield monitor read up to 5-6t/ha in parts.

“This again demonstrated that Emu Rock will perform very satisfactorily when things are tough, especially on heavy country which can tend to cut off early and exceptionally well in the best of conditions, which just make it a must have wheat variety,” Mr Wheeler said.

His best paddock of Emu Rock yielded a very welcome 3.0t/ha at Nhill.

Protein levels were generally low and most of his wheat only went ASW.

“For some reason 2013 was a low protein year, with many growers in the district having the same experience,” Mr Wheeler said

“Emu Rock’s consistently good grain size, one of its standout features, meant that as I clean the seed for my 2014 planting I’m not losing much in the process, which is very pleasing.”

Screenings, despite the very challenging finish, were a very satisfactory 0.7-0.8%.

Mr Wheeler intends planting 400 ha of Emu Rock across his two farms this year, subject to rainfall quantum and timing, but is optimistic that no matter how the season unfolds, Emu Rock will once again do the job.

According to InterGrain Wheat Breeder, Chris Moore, Emu Rock performed well in Victoria’s drier areas in 2013, particularly the mallee region, with the season favouring mid-shorter season varieties.

“Emu Rock is a good short season option in these situations as you can sow it late if the season breaks late or delay sowing for double knock weed control.

“Emu Rock has useful crown rot tolerance, MS, which is among the highest commercially available, however it is cereal cyst nematode susceptible and this needs to be managed within the rotation,” Dr Moore explained.
 



More news from: InterGrain Pty. Ltd.


Website: http://www.intergrain.com

Published: March 12, 2014

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