Australia
November 28, 2007
Source:
GRDC's The Crop Doctor
A number of factors, including the
recently developed market for canola hay, canola prices and the
release of ‘Dune’, Australia’s first canola quality Brassica
juncea, make canola, or ‘juncea canola’, a viable option for
Western Australia (WA) growers, even in low rainfall areas.
WA production this season is estimated to be 365,000 tonnes,
according to the
Australian Oilseeds Federation.
At current canola prices of more than $500 a tonne and canola
hay at $250 a tonne, the return, even on small crops, should
cover production costs and generate worthwhile returns.
Dr Steve Marcroft, coordinator of the Better Oilseeds project,
resourced by GRDC and the
Australian Oilseeds Federation, said development of the canola
hay market was increasing farmer confidence in the crop, with
useful profits possible from hay where crops had struggled to
fill grain.
Historically, canola has a mixed history in WA, with many
growers unwilling to risk the outlay required to put in a crop
and gamble on the prospect of timely rain.
This is despite the benefits of canola for diversifying risk and
as a good break crop against weeds and disease.
Wheat yield after canola is generally 20 per cent higher than
wheat following wheat, due mainly to breaking the cereal root
disease cycle. Reduced root disease allows cereals to better use
available moisture in dry conditions.
Canola also allows the rotation of herbicide groups, which
lowers the risk of developing herbicide resistance. Relatively
low cost, but highly effective grass-selective herbicides can be
used for canola and this helps break the cereal root disease
cycle and reduces the need for weed control in the following
wheat crop.
Joint research by the
Victorian Department of Primary Industries and
Viterra (previously the
Saskatchewan Grain Pool) in Canada, partly funded by the GRDC,
resulted in the release this year of Australia’s first canola
quality Brassica juncea named ‘Dune’. Pacific Seeds has
the seed production and marketing rights for Dune and other
juncea canola cultivars coming through the program.
Wayne Burton, oilseed breeder at the Victorian DPI, reports that
Dune has faster ground covering ability and better heat, drought
and shatter tolerance in low rainfall areas than traditional
cultivars of canola, Brassica napus. The aim is to provide
growers in lower rainfall areas (275-350mm) with a reliable and
profitable break crop.
Juncea canola will save growers about $20-25/ha as low
shattering allows it to be direct harvested.
Multi-site 2004 trials showed that Dune yields equal or better
those of traditional conventional canola cultivars.
Future research will focus on improving the quality of the meal,
by further lowering the glucosinolate content, increasing oil
content and improving yield.
More than 90 per cent of Australian canola is planted to
herbicide tolerant varieties and Mr Burton said the development
of herbicide tolerant juncea cultivars are a high priority in
the breeding program, especially for WA.
The first Clearfield tolerant variety, OasisCL, is currently in
seed production and should be available commercially to WA
growers in 2009.
Good progress has also been made with triazine tolerant
cultivars, with a first release anticipated for 2010, depending
on trial results in the next couple of years.
Other news
from the Australian Oilseeds Federation |
|
 |
|
The Crop Doctor is
GRDC Managing Director,
Peter Reading |
|
