A new GRDC project focusing on oat agronomy and industry development, as well as examining the influence of agronomic management on both yield and quality, will benefit Western Australian oat growers 

According to Department of Agriculture senior researcher Blakely Paynter, dwarf milling varieties are one of the areas being investigated.

Dwarf milling varieties have the potential for improved yields and improved agronomy, as non-dwarf milling varieties are generally lower yielding and more prone to shedding and lodging.

“Information on the agronomy of oaten hay is limited or not freely available, so the GRDC project will provide growers and consultants with information to tailor crop management to their environment.

“The ultimate aim will be to maximise the chances of a grower delivering a grain or hay variety into its appropriate segregation,” he said.

The project has a research and an industry development focus and will collaborate with the National Oat Breeding Program and the Western Oat Alliance.