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2015 Western Australia Agribusiness Crop Updates - Barley offers growers better returns in current market


South Perth, Western Australia
February 20, 2015


Department of Agriculture and Food research officer Christine Zaicou-Kunesch speaking to growers at the Liebe field day in 2014 about her barley verses wheat research.

Growing barley will have a higher economic return than wheat for growers in the current market, when sown in the right conditions, according to research findings from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

In today’s market, barley commodity prices are high compared to previous years with malting barley and milling wheats priced similarly at $320 and $315 respectively.

Based on yield alone, barley was more productive than wheat on a larger number of wheatbelt trial sites sown both on wheat and canola stubble.

Department research officer Christine Zaicou-Kunesch said six barley varieties and six wheat varieties were sown at trial sites at across the wheatbelt in 2014.

“Trials sown into wheat were at Binnu, Buntine, Wongan Hills, Merredin and Pingrup, and sown into canola at Wongan Hills, Cunderdin, York and Pingrup,” Ms Zaicou-Kunesch said.

“Nitrogen treatments were then applied at varied intervals and rates.

“Crops were monitored and assessed for establishment, head numbers and yield.”

More detailed data from the Grains Research and Development Corporation-funded (GRDC) trials will be presented at the 2015 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates in Perth this month, hosted by the department and GRDC.

Ms Zaicou-Kunesch said barley was higher yielding than wheat at six of the nine sites, similar at two sites and lower yielding at one.

“When sown into wheat stubble, barley was significantly higher yielding at Buntine, Wongan Hills and Cunderdin, and sown into canola stubble higher at York, Pingrup and Wongan Hills.

“There was no difference at the Pingrup and Cunderdin sites, with Binnu the only site to produce higher wheat yields.

“Crop establishment and head numbers were higher in barley than wheat at all sites, expect Binnu.

“Both crops were responsive to added nitrogen at either 20 or 40 kg/ha. Higher applications of nitrogen (80 kg/ha) did however, reduce barley yields in Wongan Hills and Cunderdin.”

Ms Zaicou-Kunesch said the price of each commodity ultimately influenced its profitability.

“It today’s market, barley prices are high compared to wheat, however growers should still consider crop selections carefully,” she said.

“Site selection is very important in order to achieve grain quality.

“Barley is less tolerant to acid soils and malt grade can be hard to achieve. These factors should be considered when deciding whether growing barley will achieve the best economic return.”

The 2015 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates will be held at Crown Perth on 24 - 25 February. For further event information visit giwa.org.au/2015-crop-updates or contact the Grain Industry Association of WA office on 08 6262 2128.

More information on Regional Crop Updates 2015 is available from agric.wa.gov.au/regional-crop-updates-2015 and www.grdc.com.au/updatedates



More news from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


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

Published: February 20, 2015

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