The 2016 trials harvest is officially underway!
The BCG plot harvester struck its ‘first blow’ for the season at Curyo on November 10 with canola and barley trials the first to be harvested.
As at November 30, a total of 30 trials had been harvested out of the 134 to be done, including the Mallee component of the National Variety Trials (NVTs) which BCG is managing this year.
Over the harvesting period the BCG research team visit more than 40 sites spread across the Wimmera and Mallee, and like farmers in the region will be working long days (and weekends) to ensure trials are harvested within their appropriate window.
So far trials have also been harvested at Curyo, Manangatang, Walpeup, Hopetoun, Murrayville, Rainbow, Warmur, Birchip, Jil Jil and Ultima.
It has been a positive start to harvest with some of the canola varieties at Manangatang yielding three tonnes (3t/ha) and some of the barley varieties at the main site at Warmur yielding well in excess of 7t/ha.
Meanwhile the BCG lab has fired up with grain quality testing being carried out on samples collected from the trials.
Yield and quality results from BCG’s independent variety trials are being sent directly to members within 48 hours of harvest. Early results allow for early decision-making, particularly around variety choice, what seed to retain and what seed to order. To date BCG members have received canola and barley preliminary results.
To become a BCG member, and receive many benefits including early variety results and a 200-page compendium containing research trials results from 2016, sign up at: https://www.bcg.org.au/memberships1/
