Australia
May 14, 2007
Fitzroy* - a new Victorian-bred,
high-yielding variety of malting barley - is set carve a place
in northern grains region cropping programs, according to
Queensland Department of
Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) barley industry
development officer, Kym McIntyre.
"Extensive testing has shown Fitzroy* has significant yield and
disease resistance advantages over the current popular malting
varieties Gairdner* and Grimmett for both northern New South
Wales and southern Queensland," Ms McIntyre said.
"It is best suited to the domestic brewing markets and that's
why the Lion Nathan Brewing Group, along with Joe White Maltings
have been running commercial malting and brewing trials for the
past two years."
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[Photo (left): Peter Healy, Lion Nathan technical
manager, Kym McIntyre Queensland DPI&F barley industry
development officer and Angus Woods, Woods Grain,
Goondiwindi toast the release of Fitzroy barley.] |
Fitzroy* was bred by the
Department of Primary Industries Victoria (DPIV) and evaluated
in the north eastern Australia cropping zones by the QDPI&F and
New South Wales Department
of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) through the Northern Region
Barley Improvement Program.
"The excellent collaboration of the various organisations
involved in the evaluation was a major influence the naming of
this variety," Ms McIntyre said.
Fitzroy* was named after the Australian Football League club
"Fitzroy Lions" which successfully migrated to Queensland and
was launched recently at Lion's Castlemaine Perkins Brewery in
Brisbane.
"Fitzroy* has a good fit through the higher rainfall parts of
the region and should be an excellent companion to Grout barley
also recently released," Ms McIntyre said.
"Grout is quick maturing and has been an exceptional performer
in the western parts of the region and in late planting or
double cropping options.
"Fitzroy* fits well as a medium to late maturing variety for the
eastern parts of the region, together they give growers a
excellent choice. Grout however is still undergoing malt
evaluation and is therefore a feed variety."
She said Fitzroy* offered growers a significant yield advantage
over current malting varieties in the northern region, combined
with improved foliar disease resistance and improved malting and
brewing characteristics for the domestic industry.
"Fitzroy* is now being widely promoted in northern NSW and
southern Queensland as one of the preferred malting varieties
for the domestic brewing industry.
"Given the high yield, good disease resistance and improved
grain size of Fitzroy* and Grout they will quickly achieve a
high market share within the region and will dominate
production."
Good stocks of both Fitzroy* and Grout are available for 2007
planting through AWB Seeds.
*Varieties displaying this symbol beside them are protected
under the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994. |
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