Farming marginal country near Merriwagga, in the northern part of the Riverina region in New South Wales,  Jeff Muirhead looks to local National Variety Trials (NVT) results to select the best varieties for his cropping program.

Jeff has had an NVT site on  his property for the past seven years,  where the performance of wheat,
barley, durum and oat varieties has  been compared.

“Our geography, soils, rainfall, disease  and pest risks affect crops’ performance,”  Jeff says. “For us, stripe rust is an issue.  So, looking at the data is not just about  yield, it’s the whole package, which is  what NVT provides.

“The varieties we are growing have  been tested for three to four years now,  so we have several years of independent  data and know how they will perform.”

For Jeff, the larger benefit is the trust  the results create. “The number one thing  for me is that the data is independent;  there’s no marketing with it. It’s so  thorough, so you can trust it for yield  data and disease ratings.”

Western Australia

WA’s Chris (called Wags) Seimer also values the local results. Wags farms near Scaddan, north of Esperance.

“The results reflect our environment,”  he says. “Conditions can change in just a few kilometres, so having local data is beneficial.  I always like to have a wander around and  see how different varieties are performing.”

NSW–Queensland

For Mungindi adviser Mick Brosnan,  NVT data helps confirm what he and his grower clients are seeing.

For example, the latest NVT results showed the chickpea variety PBA Drummond was still outyielding CBA Captain by 18 per cent.

“It is what we thought,” Mick says. “So, as long as growers are happy to do a few fungicide applications, it’s best to stay with the variety we know. The disease package is better on the newer varieties, but the yield is just not there.”

Likewise, NVT data gave him the confidence to try newer wheat varieties,  such as Leverage, a replacement for Coolah, and Sundancer for Lancer.

“Leverage and Sundancer both have an early sowing window, a good stripe rust package and high yield,” he says. “Intrigue also has a high crown rot rating and performed quite well.” He says this is why local data is so valuable.

Mick services an area of 60 kilometres around Mungindi on the Queensland and New South Wales border. Although there are trial sites in Moree about 120km south-east, more local information is useful.

He says the Mungindi data helps him decide between varieties and crops. “It’s great to have the local information. It confirms our thinking and is a good starting point.”

South Australia

South Australian grower Andrew McLean, who hosts the canola trials at Keith, likes tracking varieties through the testing process.

“They start out as just a number and it’s great to be able to see the progression,” Andrew says. “It’s wonderful to see the newer stuff coming through and compare it to standard stuff in the market. Having the chance to see that locally is valuable,” he says.

He also likes the level playing field the NVT created. “They all are planted on the same site, with the same variables. So it’s a good indicator of how they will go.”

Three reasons to ask for the latest NVT results

1. It is the only independent source of variety performance information. NVT is the largest independent trial program in the world, run for growers to provide reliable and credible information  to assist in varietal decision-making.  Do not settle for anything else; ask for  the NVT results.
2. It is a proven performer. The risk associated with using an unknown variety without independent performance data is greater than sticking with your established variety with a proven track record. Do not take a risk; ask for  the NVT results.
3. NVT has an established track record. Seasonal conditions often have a far more variable effect on variety performance than differences between geographical locations, even when locations are far removed. Having at least two years’ worth of NVT trialling is recommended for more accurate performance data. Choose with confidence and accuracy; ask for the  NVT results.

More information: nvt.grdc.com.au