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Western Australia - Improvements to Flower Power, online tool to predict wheat flowering times of up to three different varieties at the same time and the risk of frost or heat stress in your location


Western Australia
May 16, 2014


DAFWA’s Flower Power model has been improved and updated.

A vital online tool for wheat growers, Flower Power, has been updated and improved to assist them to maximise their crop potential.

The Department of Agriculture and Food developed Flower Power to assist decisions on variety sowing time and seeding order to reduce the risk of frost and heat stress.

A new function will also be added in response to industry feedback that enables the program output to be printed, allowing growers and consultants to take the information into the paddock for discussion.

Department Research Officer Christine Zaicou-Kunesch said with a widespread early break to the season, growers would be wise to consult Flower Power to optimise their crop potential.
“Flower Power enables growers to compare flowering date predictions for varieties and frost and heat risk for a location close to them,” she said.

“The model provides a localised risk assessment that can assist growers’ choice of varieties and sowing order.”

There are more than 30 varieties in the tool which represents over 90 per cent of the state varieties sown in 2013.

Ms Zaicou-Kunesch advised growers to use Flower Power along with local knowledge on risk factors and in discussion with their consultant.

The Wheat Variety Guide is another source of information on risk factors, such as staining and sprouting that are influenced by sowing time.

Since Flower Power was developed three years ago, with the assistance of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, there has been a good take up by growers. The internet page received more than 1500 hits last season.

The department continues to work with breeding companies to include new varieties in the Flower Power model as soon as possible.

“We are liaising with the breeding companies so we can undertake trials and collect information on new breeding lines, which can be incorporated as soon as is practicable once they are released,” Ms Zaicou-Kunesch said.

More information on Flower Power is available in DAFWA’s AgTactics Northern online newsletter.

Flower Power and can be accessed for free via the department’s website agric.wa.gov.au by searching for ‘flower power’, while the 2014 Wheat Variety Guide can also be found by searching for the publication by its title.
 



More news from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


Website: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

Published: May 16, 2014

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