TRITICALE is a hardy dual-purpose crop that performs well under tough conditions, and big gains are being made from new varieties, according to triticale specialist Kath Cooper.
Dr Cooper and her partner Mike Elleway specialise in triticale seed production on their farm at Sherlock, and have recently developed several hardy new varieties.
"I've seen improvements in grain yield, grain test weight and plant type," she said.
"And, over the years, when new rust pathotypes came along we developed new varieties with resistance to rust."
Kath held the position of University of Adelaide triticale breeder for 25 years.
Mike, hailing from an Eyre Peninsula farming family, recalls triticale's ability to provide a profitable crop in drought conditions, when other crops were not worth harvesting.
He spent several years working for the university as a research farm manager, then became a triticale breeding assistant.
When that program was terminated in 2004 because of privatisation rearrangements, the couple formed their own farming partnership, with their 500-hectare Sherlock farm.
Kath says triticale can yield as high - if not higher -than any other crop, because of its hybrid vigour.
"In trials in high-rainfall areas like Armidale, New South Wales, triticale has been yielding more than 10 tonnes to the hectare," she said.
In South Australia, a more realistic triticale yield is likely to be about 5t/ha, with the new variety Yowie reaching this last season when grown for seed at Strathalbyn.
She says triticale is often grown in poorer conditions and treated less kindly, yet can still be profitable.
It has a range of benefits in rotations.
"Almost all triticales offer good resistance to root lesion nematode, and some offer cereal-cyst nematode resistance," Kath said.
"Those looking at triticale should consider their ability to market the crop.
"Triticale is grown a lot in the Mallee because of its hardiness and it tends to be grown where it's easier to sell.
"Many triticale growers are using it themselves for their own stockfeed and some feed millers are using it. Triticale is particularly popular with the dairy industry.
"While growers on EP have cut back their area of triticale in recent years, with fewer receival points, one thing that does make triticale popular there is the fact you can make hay from it, even in tougher years."
*Full report in Stock Journal, November 24 issue, 2011.
