It seems we are going to hear a lot more about dual purpose winter wheats, which can be planted as early as March – even February on the higher country – grazed until July, or even early August and then be left to produce a pretty fair sort of a grain harvest.

They’ve been around for a few years now, and in the northern grains region largely confined to the higher slopes and tablelands that suit the first suite of varieties.

Bob Freebairn, New South Wales Agriculture’s regional director for the north west and a member of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Southern Panel, recently highlighted the potential of the new Sunprime Seeds variety Marombi for more traditional grain production areas.

He says  Marombi will suit a lot of slopes areas ecause it has a more winter habit than quicker maturing winter wheats like Wylah and Whistler but less than the winter wheats that suit the tablelands.

“ With premium returns often available now for heavier animals – prime lambs, for instance – there is a big role for dual purpose cereals,” Mr Freebairn says.

“ Having at least part of the crop sown to winter wheat increases flexibility for mixed farmers.

“It can provide extra high quality grazing of about 25 dry sheep equivalents per hectare for about 70 to 90 days and much more in tableland areas and/or if a large part of the grain return is sacrificed by later than desirable grazing.  

“ However choosing a variety with the right winter habit for a particular environment is  important.

“ New South Wales Agriculture trials – supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) – in recent years in Gunnedah, Coonabarabran, Coolah, Mendooran, Mudgee and Dubbo areas have shown Marombi is more than 10 per cent better in grain recovery than any other winter wheat, and similar in grazing production.”

Mr Freebairn says 25 New South Wales Agriculture trials of dual purpose wheat have shown that – despite a lot of grazing – grain recovery can average 80 to 90 per cent of grain only wheats.

This is probably because early sown crops  root more deeply and access more moisture and nutrients than crops from more traditional sowing times. 

Sunprime Seeds CEO, Kerry Gleeson, says seed increase of Marombi will result in 500 to 600 tonnes being available for planting in 2004.  

“We’re already getting significant orders for Marombi seed. Growers who’ve heard about it apparently don’t want to miss out,” Mr Gleeson said.