Unique opportunity for Southern NSW pulse growers

The field day 'Pulses: New Opportunities Ahead - Pulse Breeding and Agronomy' is being hosted by NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Pulse Breeding Australia at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute. It kicks off with a breakfast at 7.30am.

The field day also features the release of the new high yielding white field pea OZP 0819 by Pulse Breeding Australia and partners SeedNet. This pea will offer growers niche marketing opportunities as a 'white' pea.

The day will cover future directions, new developments, nitrogen benefits of pulses, brown manuring options and marketing, as well as giving growers the opportunity to have their say on breeding, agronomy and their role in the region.

NSW DPI research agronomist, Dr Eric Armstrong, said the field day had been organised to coincide with the annual meeting of Australia's pulse breeders and agronomists at Wagga Wagga. This event is held at a different location across Australia each year.

“The pulse breeders and agronomists are united under the banner of Pulse Breeding Australia and represent pulse production regions stretching through Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia,” Dr Armstrong said.

“They will be on site at the field day to guide attendees through the breeding and agronomy trials of field pea, lupin, chickpea, lentil and faba bean on site at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute.

“It will be a long time before these experts are assembled again in Wagga Wagga, and I am urging local farmers and advisors to take advantage of this golden opportunity to meet them.”

He said pulses were becoming increasingly important in southern NSW as rotation crops with wheat in sustainable farming systems, and as nitrogen fertiliser prices head skyward, and farmers struggle to maintain grain protein levels in wheat.

"Here at Wagga Wagga we not only develop new varieties for southern NSW, we develop specific agronomic packages for their production. This work is lead by NSW DPI Research Agronomist Luke Gaynor,” Dr Armstrong said.

At the field day growers will also be updated on the latest developments with bacterial blight resistance in field pea by NSW DPI's Kurt Lindbeck.

Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute has been instrumental in this work, seeing the release of two new resistant varieties - PBA Oura and PBA Percy - last year.

The field day is free and runs from 7.30am-11.30am. It includes breakfast and morning tea. For further information contact Dr Armstrong on (02) 6938 1814 or eric.armstrong@dpi.nsw.gov.au or Fleur Winter, Pulse Breeding Australia Coordinator, on 0417 926 033 or fleurwinter@bigpond.com

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