New varieties at pulse field day

Regional pulse growers and advisers will again have the chance to learn about the latest varieties and hear agronomy and risk-management tips at a Southern Pulse Agronomy Wimmera Field Day.

The field day will be at Vectis, west of Horsham, on October 25, in partnership with Pulse Breeding Australia and with support from Grains Research and Development Corporation, Seednet, Pbseeds, AGT Foods Australia and Agriculture Victoria.

Agriculture Victoria pulse agronomist Dr Jason Brand said the field day would showcase newly released varieties from Pulse Breeding Australia.

“Pulse breeders from across the country will talk about the new varieties available for sowing in 2019,” he said.

“We will also discuss tactics that Wimmera growers can implement to manage risk when using pulses in the crop sequence.”

Dr Brand said discussions on the day would cover agronomic issues including herbicide tolerance, sowing timing for different varieties at different locations and phosphorus nutrition.

Agriculture Victoria pulse pathologist Dr Josh Fanning will also discuss latest disease-management strategies. New pulse varieties on show at the field day site will include: • PBA Hallmark XTA – a superior yielding herbicide, imidazolinone-tolerant red lentil. • PBA Bendoc A – the first imidazolinone-tolerant faba bean released in Australia. • PBA Marne A – the highest-yielding faba bean variety for short-season areas.

Pulse Australia executive officer Nick Goddard said growers at the field day would also receive marketing information including the global pulse market supply and demand situation, particularly in relation to prospects for India.

“We will discuss what this might mean for this year’s crop marketing plans and for next year’s planting intentions,” he said.

“A number of traders will be present, so it’s a chance to listen to a cross-section of views of the outlook for 2019.”

The field day will be from 9am at Remlaw Station Road, north of the Wimmera Highway at Vectis, and will be followed by a free lunch.

Growers who intend to stay for lunch should RSVP to Dr Brand on 0409 357 076 or email jason.brand@ecodev.vic.gov.au.