RIVERINA growers are assessing their options in closing the yield gap in canola crops.
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And hybrid varieties may offer some of the answers according to information presented at a three-day Wagga field day.
Canola breeders are using knowledge and success stories from the northern hemisphere to improve results here.
In fact participants at the field day – titled the Canola Technology Showcase - were told Canada, Europe and China produce canola yields that are, on average, 400kg/ha higher than those achieve in Australia.
DuPont Pioneer, national marketing and communications manager, James Holden said the industry could learn from experiences overseas.
He said yield improvements came from hybrid varieties. The adoption a rate of these varieties is close to 100 per cent in some countries yet Australians are taking up the technology at a rate of 30 to 35 per cent.
”We wanted to hold the Canola Technology Showcase to highlight this and talk about ways the Australian industry could actually close that yield gap,” Mr Holden said.
Some of the varieties discussed were glyphosate tolerant and there was further talk about the already adopted Roundup Ready technology.
“The second area of focus is responsible for stewardship,” he said.
Mr Holden said these practices included herbicide resistance management.
Managing herbicide resistance was considered a key issue for the issue.
And growers were also encouraged to evaluate seed quality.
During the three days the event, at Barry Langtry’s Marrar property, was attended by more than 180 people.
Growers, consultants and advisers travelled from South Australia, throughout NSW and from Victoria to learn about the new technology.
Meanwhile, Mr Holden said the season was shaping up well and crops were looking well.
In fact plenty of steady rain fell during the Marrar field day.
“The crops are looking really good and farmers are now hoping for followup rain in September … it is a pretty positive season,” he said.