Dual-purpose cereals shine

And as farmers considered how to make use of moisture from the wet summer, DPI technical specialist for grain services Peter Matthews, Orange, said they were well worth a look.

With the support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, DPI managed a series of dual-purpose cereal cropping trials across NSW at Somerton, Purlewaugh, Cowra and Culcairn.

The trials included the newest grazing varieties of wheat, triticale, cereal rye, oats and barley.

Sown in mid-April, the crops in the northern areas had a tough start with the drier conditions at sowing, but still produced some tremendous results.

All the trials were assessed for dry matter (DM) production and then grazed.

A second DM assessment was taken later in the season.

The crops were then allowed to develop through to harvest.

“It is important once you finish grazing the crop and lock it up for grain recovery that it is then treated as a grain crop, with the necessary nutritional (nitrogen), weed and disease management undertaken to maximise possible grain yields,” Mr Matthews said.

A highlight of the trial was the high early DM production from two new cereal ryes.

“This is the first time (for several years) we’ve had new cereal ryes available which suited both grazing and grain recovery,” he said.

These included the varieties Southern Green and Vampire.

He said both varieties provided strong early growth and DM production, outperforming the traditional early feed producer, oats, at many of the sites.

“When looking to get quick early DM production the popular option has been oats, but now suitable cereal ryes are also available,” Mr Matthews said.

However, while the cereal ryes were quick to produce feed, their palatability dropped compared to the other cereals later in the season, so should make up only a part of an overall forage production system.

After the first grazing the difference in production between the crops (ie, oats, rye, barley, triticale and wheat) narrowed significantly.

The trials also showed that grazing periods and rest periods were important for DM recovery.

“Generally if you graze them too hard it slows regrowth, so if you’re able to leave some dry matter in the paddock it aids recovery from grazing and the stock can go back onto the paddock faster.”

This could impact on gross margins, as DM production and grain recovery were both important to the overall profitability of dual-purpose crops.

While data from this year’s trials was still to be completely analysed, Mr Matthews said long-term data from 2004-10 across NSW for grazing and grain trials in the higher rainfall zone, showed EGA Wedgetail was a solid performer producing 4.7 tonnes of dry matter (DM) a hectare and then yielding 3.57t/ha of grain.

Similarly, Eurabbie oats produced 5.67t DM/ha and 2.76t/ha and Endeavour triticale 5.1t DM/ha and 4.55t/ha of grain.

These figures added up to a “double bang” for producers, with excellent returns from their livestock enterprises and a profitable grain yield to boot, he said.

Of the data that had been analysed, he said looking at the Somerton trial, including a dual-purpose cereal in a farming enterprise would have been very profitable in the 2011 season.

EGA Wedgetail produced 5.95t DM/ha, which could have been utilised by stock and then yielded 6.1t/ha of grain.

Similarly Yiddah oats produced 6.59t DM/ha and 4.69t/ha of grain and Endeavour triticale produced 7.24t DM/ha and 7.78t/ha of grain.

Following the recent rain across much of the State some producers were already planning on sowing dual-purpose crops.

“At this time of year be mindful you’ve selected the right maturity so it keeps producing through the winter, particularly if you’re going to lock it up for grain recovery after grazing,” he said.

He also urged growers to do their own gross margins, as each farm was different.

Mr Matthews also warned growers sowing dual-purpose crops in 2012 in the higher rainfall parts of central and southern NSW to remain wary of wheat streak mosaic virus.