Western Australian lentil growers are now free to trade seed of Cassab red lentils after the seed licence contract expired last month.

The variety is no longer covered by a licencing arrangement, which opens the way for ‘farmer to farmer’ trading of Cassab grain or seed.

Department of Agriculture pulse research officer Kerry Regan said in Western Australia, growers had focused on producing red lentils based on the varieties Digger and Cassab

She said farmer to farmer trading was only available for Cassab, as Digger was marketed through The Lentil Company and seed must be purchased under that licence.

Ms Regan said lentils were a highly profitable crop when grown on suitable soil-types with appropriate management and harvesting.

“The lentil export market remains quite lucrative. During the last eight years the price has varied from $350 - 600 per tonne,” Ms Regan said.

“Early harvest in Western Australia has allowed the export of red lentils well ahead of the eastern states. The quality achieved from WA’s 2003 harvest was excellent.”

Ms Regan said the Department had recently released a new Farmnote - Growing lentils in the wheatbelt to provide growers with up to date crop management information.

“Lentils are most suited to well drained and level clay loam paddocks with neutral to alkaline soils in low to medium rainfall areas,” she said.

“Sowing in mid to late May is likely to be optimum to allow for good weed management before sowing, and to reduce the risk of lodging and fungal diseases such as ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould.”

Ms Regan said research into plant density had found that the seed yields of lentil could be increased by using sowing rates above those currently used by farmers.

“The current recommendation is to target a density of 150 plants per square metre. This is equivalent to a seeding rate of approximately 70-90 kilograms per hectare.”

The Farmnote Growing lentils in the wheatbelt - weeds pest and diseases is available from the Department of Agriculture or on the Department’s website www.agric.wa.gov.au