CSIRO researchers Dr Julianne Lilley and Dr John Kirkegaard with Justin Kudnig of Pacific Seeds at the Iandra trial site near Greenethorpe, NSW. Photo: Pacific Seeds

PACIFIC Seeds and CSIRO have joined forces on a new three-year $250,000 research project set to better tailor canola hybrids and crop management to regional Australia’s variable growing conditions.

Pacific Seeds national canola technical manager Justin Kudnig said the Winter Canola Research project aimed to improve access to integrated and region-specific information on agronomy, phenology and extension for dual-puropose canola hybrids.

The partnership follows on from work last season with CSIRO, farmers and local agronomists which saw Pacific Seeds’ Hyola 970CL product combined with science-based agronomic management to set a new Australian canola yield record of 7.16 tonnes per hectare.

Scientists managing the new project include: CSIRO group leader – mixed farming innovations Dr Julianne Lilley; CSIRO farming systems scientist Dr Jeremy Whish; CSIRO grazing animal scientist Dr Rebecca Stutz, and Justin Kudnig.

Dr Lilley said initially the project would collate, review, and organise existing information and identify any knowledge gaps across the industry.

“In its first year, the project will conduct highly detailed phenology trials with three time of sowing events at four locations across Australia involving industry, growers, agronomists, and advisors,” Dr Lilley said.

“This research will help us to jointly develop a world-first interactive decision-making tool for canola variety selection, dedicated time of sowing advice along with grazing advice, applied crop-nutrition agronomy and animal-health recommendations.”

In addition, the project will develop a Technical Management Guide for existing and novel Grain-n-Graze germplasm.

It will include the appropriate choice of varieties for diverse sites and optimising sowing dates to maximise forage and grain production, together with crop phenology and animal-management advice based on the latest research and industry consultation.

Source: Pacific Seeds