AGT winter wheat breeder Britt Kalmeier in a crop of newly released Illabo (tested as V09150-01).

A NEW dual-purpose, high yielding APH wheat is the first variety to be launched out of AGT’s recently established winter breeding program based at Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales.

Illabo, which was tested as V09150-01, has been released as a dual-purpose variety to benefit the mixed farming sector.

It was bred with the specific intention to offer cropping and livestock farmers an improved version of EGA Wedgetail, which is the main parent of Illabo.

AGT marketing manager, James Whiteley, said the variety had the potential to produce significantly higher grain yields than EGA Wedgetail, while maintaining dry matter production.

“From central NSW down to Victoria, mixed farming plays a big role in many businesses, so to provide a high yielding winter wheat that allows for both grazing and high quality grain production is really exciting,” he said.

“Southern NSW has been the traditional home of dual-purpose wheat which is why we made the strategic decision to create a dedicated winter and long season wheat breeding program, and base it in the region.

“The use of longer season wheats which you can plant early is starting to gain in popularity, and Illabo should have a fit for many growers not just in southern NSW, but through Victoria, into South Australia and even parts of Western Australia.

“The initial cross was made with the intention of improving on Illabo’s major parent EGA Wedgetail and it has stood out in our trials as having higher yield potential while producing equivalent to slightly increased dry matter.”

Winter and long season wheat breeder Britt Kalmeier said Illabo had strong attributes which would add increased value to farm businesses.

“Importantly, we have gained an APH quality classification for southern NSW, while receiving an AH classification for Victoria and SA. This means that growers can sell grain from Illabo crops into the maximum quality grades possible, while also realising feed value throughout the season by grazing,” she said.

The early sown NVT trials from across southern NSW have shown Illabo to be the highest-yielding alternative to EGA Wedgetail, outperforming it by seven per cent and producing eight per cent more grain than other alternative, Kittyhawk.

Illabo displays an improved disease resistance package over EGA Wedgetail, with marked improvements in stripe rust, yellow leaf spot and black point resistance.

Ideally suited to planting in early April in many environments, Illabo provides similar grazing capacity to EGA Wedgetail however reaches maturity two to three days earlier.

The variety name honours the town of Illabo north-east of Junee, which has a strong mixed farming history.

Commercial quantities of Illabo seed will be available for the 2019 season through AGT Affiliates and local retailers.

Source: AGT