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Central Highlands - QLD
Central Highlands Territory Manager Wayne Ross Ph: 07 4982 1611 Fax: 07 4982 2765 Mob: 0439 487 442 G’day from Pacific Seeds What a mixed bag of weather events we saw this summer. From well above average and in some cases nearly ridiculous amounts of rain in the south, to very patchy and almost non existent falls in the north. It is another year to show just how fickle mother nature can be. This summer has had another issue to make our summer plant just a little more confusing was the forecast prices quoted for CQ. This issue really made everyone have a long hard think about how their normal rotations of winter and summer crop would change. I think a few calculators have had their numbers worn off. Having said that, most growers have still had a moderate sized plant of sorghum. With these reduced areas MR Buster and MR 43 have still shown that the tried and proven varieties will have to stand up and be counted to realize a reasonable tonnage out of CQ this year. This year we have some MR Striker out in paddocks about the place so keep an eye out for the signs and have a look at how she goes. Corn planting is now an option with a healthy area forecast to go in. Most dryland growers are looking to plant Hycorn 675IT, with Hycorn 424 still having show in some areas. When driving around keep an eye out for the new varieties Hycorn 727 and Pac M624. These are out and about to gauge how they handle our area. Hycorn 727 is a dual purpose corn with traits that show it is a great grit variety as well as a high yield feed corn. Pac M624 has shown a lot of promise in trials as a high yield good strong feed corn that is on the money as a silage/earlage variety as well. These new varieties will be in our grow show sites along with the more established corns. Sunnies are on the comeback trail in CQ. There was some very good results from spring plant Hyoleic 41s. With the cloud of TSV still hanging over this summer option very good yields were realized last year from both Mono and poly varieties. This summer Hysun 39 has finished up and can take its place beside some of the old sunnies that did a great job in years gone by. Speaking of old sunnies of years gone by, the old girl has come back from the dead if we need a hand to cover the acres Hysun 33 Elite can be ordered to fill out any poly contracts that are out there. Maize options - Pac M624 – Feed/Silage – CRM 117 Days Sunflower options – Poly’s – Hysun 38 standard and Hysun 33 Elite Midge- History would tell us that we have a greater chance of finding a few midge around late in the season. With this in mind, the following are a few points to remember; A small, fragile orange fly about the same size as small mozzie. A midge damaged head has the appearance that it has failed to set seed. The midge lay there eggs in the developing florets and when the eggs hatch the larvae feed on the developing seed. Each hybrid on the market today has a MTR (Midge Tested Rating), this can be a useful management tool as the rating puts the relative resistance of sorghum hybrids into perspective. For example a hybrid with a midge rating of 6 (MR-Striker) has 6 times more resistance than a susceptible variety. The resistance level is directly related to the amount of grain lost per day per egg laying midge. Scouting for midge daily at early-mid morning just prior to and during flowering is still your best insurance and will ensure they don’t get out of hand. (Midge Life Cycle) Stock Levels- Current stocks of all Hycorn varieties are good. A limited amount of Hycorn 727 available, contact me if you wish to have a look at this one on your farm. Trials- By the time you read this our two grow shows should be planted and a sorghum only trial at Dysart. Call me if you want to have a look at these in the growth stages. Regards Wayne Ross
Last Updated:
March 31, 2009
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