Cropping

Combat released as high-yielding feed barley for WA

Grain Central, September 12, 2022

Combat was launched by InterGrain’s Georgia Trainor at the SEPWA Condingup spring field day on Friday. Photo: InterGrain

COMBAT was officially released last week to offer growers a new high-yielding barley variety in Western Australia.

Combat is being marketed as an alternative to Rosalind, with its yields in the 2021 National Variety Trials (NVT) coming in above the benchmark variety.

Formerly known by breeding code IGB1944, Combat is described as a broadly adapted, mid-season variety.

InterGrain breeder David Moody said Combat was bred to meet grower demand for a high-yielding variety suited to earlier sowing, and with a weed-competitive plant type.

“During four years in InterGrain yield trials and one year in NVT, Combat performed consistently well across a range of cropping regions, particularly in environments below 3.5 tonnes per hectare,” Mr Moody said.

“It’s also shown good adaptability in higher-yielding environments.”

Mr Moody said Combat offered a good disease-resistance package, including very good powdery mildew
resistance and spot form of net blotch resistance, and had useful levels of resistance to leaf rust
and the net form of net blotch.

“Combat’s semi-prostrate plant growth habit is combined with good early vigour, improving ground cover and weed competition.

“Combat has a much larger grain size than Rosalind, resulting in improved grain plumpness.”

Mr Moddy said Combat provided growers with an exceptionally high-yielding, mid-season feed barley with offered flexibility on sowing dates.

“It is capable of being sown from late April to late May.”

Combat is available for planting in 2023 from InterGrain Seedclub members and resellers.

Source: InterGrain

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