Western Australian grain growers have been quick to realise the potential of semi-leafless field pea varieties like Kaspa in overcoming the harvesting problems of trailing field peas. 

The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia has visited growers harvesting Kaspa to record the successes and failures as a guide to new growers.  The results are available in Farmnote 14/2005 ‘Successfully harvesting semi-leafless field peas’. 

Department pulse researcher Mark Seymour said the harvesting requirements for semi-leafless varieties were slightly different than the requirements for trailing varieties.

“Semi-leafless lines tend to be fluffy at maturity, having a large volume-to-weight ratio which could lead to a build-up of material on the front of the header,” Mr Seymour said.

“This is common on draper-belt fronts, but has also been observed when Kaspa is harvested with a conventional header with a plucker front.

“Conventional open front harvesters with a table auger (tin front) are well suited to both trailing and semi-leafless peas including Kaspa, but drapers and pluckers need modification to harvest Kaspa easily and efficiently.”

The major harvesting benefits of Kaspa include:

• Kaspa can be swathed, and provided the swaths are rolled immediately, will be stable in windy conditions.  Modifications to swathers which help move material out of the exit hole will assist. 

• Kaspa can be direct-headed in hot weather. 

• As a result of Kaspa’s sugar pod trait, losses due to inclement weather or rough handling will be significantly lower.

• Harvest samples of Kaspa are significantly cleaner (less dust and dirt).

Issues to consider when harvesting Kaspa include:           

• Harvested material moves poorly across draper fronts and may block the header.  Fitting a cross auger with paddles is the best known modification. 

• Similar issues with barrel pluckers can be dealt with in two ways – fit lupin breakers to table auger and harvest at speeds up to 6km/hr or fit a cross auger which allows for harvest speeds up to 10km/hr.

• In cool conditions, Kaspa is more difficult to thresh and many choppers and spreaders may perform poorly.

The Department of Agriculture has produced a CD-video which allows growers to view different harvester set-ups working in Kaspa. This video was available at the Dowerin and Newdegate Field Days, and will soon be available at key district offices.