Australia
May 9, 2013
Mark Taylor, pictured preparing for seeding on his property at Collingullie, west of Wagga Wagga, was impressed with the new Australian Prime Hard (APH) wheat, Wallup, on his farm last year and he says if it performs to expectations, it will meet his requirements to have a versatile variety for both irrigation and dry land.
HIGH potential yields, price premiums and excellent versatility for both dryland and irrigated production are key attributes of new Australian Prime Hard (APH) wheat, Wallup, that are set to drive increased plantings of the variety in southern NSW this season.
Mark Taylor, who farms at Collingullie, west of Wagga Wagga, was impressed by the performance of Wallup in dry conditions on his property last year and he expects the area sown to the variety will increase to about 30 per cent of his wheat program this season.
Mark grew a dryland seed production crop of Wallup last year for Hart Bros Seeds and it achieved an average yield of more than 3 tonnes per hectare. Other varieties in his dryland program averaged less than 3t/ha.
“The Wallup worked for me on the dry last year and I’m going to have a good crack at it this year,’’ Mark said.
“Being an APH wheat variety, we can capture a market premium if we can get it.
“The Wallup was also very easy to strip in comparison to my Gregory and Livingston varieties.’’
He said he was planning to grow Wallup on a block under a pivot as part of his irrigation program as well this season.
“If it performs to expectations, it will fit my requirements to have a versatile variety for both irrigation and dry land.’’
Aaron Giason, of Hart Bros Seeds, said Wallup’s breeding and strong straw rating meant it was suitable for irrigation areas.
“With its breeding background of Chara and Wyalkatchem and its excellent straw strength, Wallup is shaping up to be a strong contender on irrigation,’’ Aaron said.
“Growers may have the prime hard variety that stands up in high, 8-10t/ha yield scenarios that they have been looking for.’’
In addition to its good lodging resistance, Wallup also produces low screening losses and good test weights.
“It performed well in last season’s dry finish alongside other commercially available varieties,’’ Aaron said
Bred at the Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) Horsham breeding centre in Victoria, the mid-maturing Wallup received Australian Hard (AH) classification in this State and Australian Prime Hard (APH) in NSW.
AGT Territory Manager Jim Lamb said Wallup was a great “flatliner’’, performing well in any type of season.
“It has proven to be equal to other varieties in yield throughout southern NSW and north central and north-eastern Victoria,’’ Jim said.
He said Wallup had impressed in trials and demonstrations and would be a competitor to the Spitfire variety.
“It has shown improved yields, easier threshing, useful resistance to black point and good CCN (cereal cyst nematode) resistance compared with Spitfire.’’
The variety also has useful resistance to root lesion nematode and yellow leaf spot and effective stem, stripe and leaf rust resistance.’’
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