Barley breeders Dr Paul Telfer and Stewart Coventry in a planting of AGT Reaper CL. Photo: AGT

AUSTRALIAN Grain Technologies has released a new Clearfield barley variety in AGT-Reaper CL and AGT-Strike TT as a barley suited to higher-rainfall areas.

AGT-Reaper CL barley

Presenting as a replacement for Maximus CL and a compelling alternative to Neo CL, AGT has released AGT-Reaper CL barley to combine Clearfield Intervix herbicide tolerance with outstanding yield potential.

It delivers a yield advantage of around 8-10 percent over Maximus CL, Australia’s most widely grown barley variety.

AGT-Reaper CL features a compact plant type similar to Maximus CL, and offers a quicker maturity and broader adaptation than Neo CL, making it well suited to all major barley-growing environments across Australia.

The variety also provides useful resistance to both spot form and net form net blotch, adding to its strong agronomic package.

According to AGT barley breeders Paul Telfer and Stewart Coventry, AGT-Reaper CL has quickly established itself as the most exciting new barley release in recent years.

“Barley growers looking to maximise yield need look no further than AGT-Reaper CL,” Dr Telfer said.

“In its first year of National Variety Trials testing in 2025, it immediately demonstrated its potential by winning more than a quarter of all barley trials conducted across Australia.”

AGT-Reaper CL builds on the strengths of the Hindmarsh barley family, which has resulted in Latrobe, Spartacus CL and Maximus CL, known for its wide adaptation, high yield potential and compact plant type.

“Maximus CL has been an outstanding performer and has become Australia’s most widely grown barley variety,” Mr Coventry said.

“AGT-Reaper CL delivers the same compact plant stature, Clearfield herbicide tolerance and broad adaptation that growers value, but with a remarkable 10-percent yield advantage.”

While both AGT-Reaper CL and Neo CL offer strong yield potential, trial data indicates AGT-Reaper CL delivers greater consistency across a range of seasonal conditions.

The breeders said AGT-Reaper CL yield stability sets it apart, and it has consistently performed across environments, particularly in lower-rainfall districts and more challenging seasons, giving growers greater confidence regardless of seasonal conditions.

The variety’s disease package compares favourably with current commercial options and further enhances its suitability across diverse production systems.

AGT-Reaper CL has been entered into the Grains Australia malt accreditation program and is currently deliverable as feed, providing growers with immediate market opportunities while the accreditation process progresses.

With its combination of market-leading yield, broad adaptation, Clearfield flexibility and strong agronomic performance, AGT-Reaper CL is poised to become the leading choice for barley growers seeking to maximise productivity and profitability.

AGT-Strike TT canola

The release of AGT-Strike TT has broadened the company’s canola portfolio to complement AGT-Insurgent TT, which is already being widely adopted in low to medium-rainfall regions.

Developed specifically for higher-production environments, AGT-Strike TT is a mid-maturing variety, offering improved lodging tolerance compared with AGT-Insurgent TT and a RMR (Group H) bare-seed blackleg resistance rating.

The variety combines the financial advantages of the open-pollinated system with performance levels that challenge both open-pollinated and hybrid TT competitors.

AGT canola breeder Sami Ullah said AGT-Strike TT represents the company’s strongest open-pollinated TT offering to date for medium to high-rainfall environments.

“AGT-Strike TT has been developed to meet the needs of growers operating in higher-yielding environments,” Dr Ullah said.

“Our trial results have consistently demonstrated highly competitive yields and very high oil content, making it a compelling option for growers seeking strong returns from a TT canola variety.”

AGT trial data has shown AGT-Strike TT to outperform AGT-Insurgent TT in higher-yielding environments, while delivering the key agronomic traits needed to maximise performance in these situations.

“Compared with AGT-Insurgent TT, AGT-Strike TT provides a slower maturity, improved lodging tolerance and enhanced blackleg resistance, all important characteristics for growers targeting higher productivity environments.

“The variety has delivered a clear yield advantage in our higher-yielding trials while maintaining the very high oil content that growers have come to expect from AGT’s TT canola-breeding program.”

AGT-Strike TT offers a valuable alternative to hybrid TT varieties, providing growers with reduced upfront seed costs and the ability to retain seed for future plantings.

“One of the major advantages of AGT-Strike TT is its ability to deliver strong economic outcomes without the higher establishment costs typically associated with hybrid systems.

“When yield, oil content, seed costs and end-point royalties are taken into account, AGT-Strike TT has demonstrated higher gross margins than leading hybrid TT competitors in favourable growing environments.”

AGT canola rield officer Brayden Hondow and AGT anola breeder Sami Ulah inspect AGT-Strike TT near Roseworthy in South Australia. Photo: AGT

Analysis of AGT trial results from across Australia shows AGT-Strike TT to be the most profitable open-pollinated TT canola option available in softer, high-yielding environments.

The variety combines competitive yield performance, outstanding oil content and low seed costs, while also giving growers the flexibility and logistical benefits of retaining seed on farm.

National Variety Trial results have also demonstrated competitive performance against established TT varieties.

“Continued breeding progress has significantly narrowed the yield gap between open-pollinated and hybrid canola varieties.”

“AGT-Strike TT demonstrates that growers no longer need to compromise on performance to access the benefits of an open-pollinated system.”

AGT recommends AGT-Strike TT for growers in medium to high-rainfall environments, while AGT-Insurgent TT remains the preferred option for low to medium-rainfall regions.

Seed of AGT-Reaper CL barley and AGT Strike TT canola is available from retailers and AGT affiliates.

Source: AGT