Plots to showcase new release cereal and pulses at Henty

Grain growers will be able to inspect 38 cereal and pulse varieties planted across the demonstration plots at this year’s Henty Machinery Field Days.

The Henty Machinery Field Days Co-operative has partnered with Rutherglen company Baker Seed Co to present the latest dual-purpose and milling varieties for field day patrons.

Baker Seed Co sales agronomist Ed Harrod said the two hectare demonstration plot complemented the fully replicated trial sites at Rutherglen used to identify elite germplasm within breeding programs.

This year’s demonstration site will feature 35 wheat, barley and oats plus three lupins – all current and new (pending release) varieties.

Mr Harrod said the display of 38 varieties was a big increase on last year’s 22. 

“The site has a great combination of numbered lines (brand new varieties destined for the market in 2024), recently released varieties and the tried and tested ones,” Mr Harrod said.

A heavy ground cover of high-density legume mix had been sown over the site in 2022.

A site burn-off eliminated vegetative trash before the varieties were sown into favourable soil moisture on May 2. Slug bait was spread over the site at sowing.

Fertiliser inputs at sowing were 80kg/ha MAP plus Impact with the seed and Urea at 80kg/ha below the seed.

The sowing rate was set to achieve a plant population of 180 plants per square metre. 

The list of varieties sown this year include: