South Perth, Western Australia
November 23, 2007
Barley growers should be taking
steps now to ensure the variety they plant next year is pure and
the variety they think it is.
Customers of malting barley, in particular, typically require 98
per cent or more purity when purchasing grain.
Western Australia
Department of Agriculture and Food Barley Industry
Development Officer Jeff Russell said it was imperative for
barley growers to ensure the quality of their seed long before
planting it.
“Growers who have or are about to finish harvesting their own
seed crops need to practice on-farm quality control and test to
ensure the purity of the seed they are bulking up for 2008,” Mr
Russell said.
“Even on the best farms, over time a barley crop can become
cross contaminated by another variety to the extent that it
commands a significant level of the crop seed for sowing.
“It is best to get seed tested and if those tests show less than
99 per cent purity, take steps to replace it with pure seed for
next season.”
Growers purchasing new varieties for next season should also
ensure they are buying certified seed or Sureseed.
“Purchasing certified seed guarantees the variety stated is
correct and has minimum standards of purity and germination,” Mr
Russell said. “Certification also ensures the seed doesn’t
exceed maximum tolerance levels of weeds and other crops.”
A seed analysis test is particularly important for growers
purchasing freely traded varieties, such as Baudin and Hamelin.
“In these cases it is important that the variety you think
you’re buying is correctly identified. It also minimises any
biosecurity and quality risks to your farming business,” Mr
Russell said.
Variety testing and seed analysis are available from AGWEST
Plant Laboratories, which can be contacted on 9368 3721, as well
as from the CBH Group, Australian Grains Centre (9416 1300). |
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