Grain industry representatives have supported the New South Wales Farmers' Association move to develop an independent system to evaluate wheat varieties before release.
 
The Association convened a meeting in Sydney to outline its plan for delivering grower friendly information about new varieties. The five point plan includes clarification of the quality classification process, the introduction of a variety and agronomic disease rating system and the ranking of varieties.
 
Chair of the Association's Grains Research Development and Extension Committee, James Clark, says it's great to see the Association has strong support from the industry.
 
"It is clear that growers, marketers and end users all share similar concerns and there are definite benefits in establishing an independent system for evaluating new wheat varieties."

Representatives at the meeting included the Grains Council of Australia (GCA), Flour Millers Council of Australia, AWB LTD, Bread Research Institute, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Australian Crop Accreditation System (ACAS) and the NSW Department of Agriculture.
 
The meeting presented the opportunity to bring industry views together, and compare current evaluation systems with those that are in the pipeline including the GRDC Crop Variety Trials (CVT).
 
"We need to combine what is available now with what is potentially on the table, ultimately delivering a system recognised and trusted by industry and growers.
 
"Whilst some finer details still need to be negotiated, significant steps are now underway to implement a steering committee led by the Association which will meet again in early January of next year, with the new evaluation system presented at Grains Week in March 2004," Mr Clark concluded.