Interest rises in new mungbean variety on offer
GROWER interest has been strong for the new mungbean variety, Jade-AU now commercially available.
The variety was released by the National Mungbean Improvement Program, led by Queensland DAFF in partnership with GRDC and the Australian Mungbean Association.
Jade-AU has consistently delivered a 12% higher yield compared to Crystal in the last five years of regional evaluation.
This yield improvement is worth around $100/ha over the returns from Crystal.
Along with better yields, Jade-AU also has an increased level of resistance to powdery mildew.
The tall, erect plant type requires similar agronomy and management as Crystal and the large, shiny green seed is suited to the same markets as Crystal.
Jade-AU has proven its worth in all mungbean growing areas from central Queensland to northern NSW.
Australian Mungbean Association president and managing director of Associated Grain Todd Jorgensen said mungbeans were now trading at almost $1000 a tonne, providing excellent returns to growers.
“Countries such as Argentina and Tanzania have started growing mungbeans recently and could present a challenge in Australia’s existing markets in the future,” he said.
“At the moment Australian mungbeans have a quality advantage, but this may not be enough to command high prices if significant additional volume comes on the market from these other countries.
“This is offset by the huge growth in demand by countries such as India and China.”
Mr Jorgensen expected many growers will try Jade-AU this year and hopefully a significant number will be impressed enough to convert from Crystal to Jade-AU as their main variety in 2014/15 season.
“It is a credit to the mungbean breeding program that the two varieties, Crystal and Jade-AU, have brought the industry so far forward in just seven years,” he said.
The AMA is holding a grower information meeting at Roma next week to provide details on all aspects of growing and marketing mungbeans, including information about the newly-released variety Jade-AU. It will be held at the Roma Bowls Club from 8am (for a barbecue breakfast) followed by the meeting from 9am to midday.
To register, contact Gordon Cumming from Pulse Australia on 0408 923 474 or by email to gordon@pulseaus.com.au.