LRPB Ripper wheat has been developed from a cross between Scepter and Vixen and topped the 2025 GRDC Main Season NVT in WA. Photo: LRPB

WESTERN Australian growers have a further three varieties of Australian Hard wheat to choose from thanks to the release of Australian Grain Technologies’ AGT-Trigg and LongReach Plant Breeders’ LRPB Atlas and LRPB Ripper.

AGT-Trigg was classified as an AH variety for WA in Grains Australia’s 2026-2027 Wheat Variety Master List, and LRPB-Atlas and LRPB-Ripper are being assessed for the 2027-2028 list.

AGT-Trigg shows resilience with upside

AGT-Trigg is a quick-maturing AH variety developed for WA conditions by AGT’s Northam-based wheat breeding team, and combines exceptional yield performance in low to medium-rainfall environments with AH quality.

The variety has been developed as an alternative to Calibre, LRPB Sonic, LRPB Vortex and Vixen, and provides growers with an option that balances productivity, quality and risk management.

AGT’s Northam-based wheat breeder Dion Bennett said AGT-Trigg has arrived at a time when many WA growers are focused on building resilience into their cropping programs.

“Western Australian growers are increasingly looking for varieties that can minimise downside risk in challenging seasons while still delivering strong returns when conditions are favourable,” Dr Bennett said.

Wheat breeder Dion Bennett and AGT wheat breeder Dion Bennett and AGT variety support manager for WA Floyd Sullivan at the launch of AGT-Trigg. Photo: AGT

“AGT-Trigg has been bred with exactly that objective in mind.

“It offers excellent adaptability, strong grain quality and outstanding yield performance in the low and medium-yield environments that make up a significant proportion of WA’s wheat-growing area.”

AGT-Trigg shares many of the strengths that made Calibre a successful variety, including its plant type, maturity profile, adaptation and disease-resistance package.

AGT-Trigg’s improvements on Calibre include higher overall yield performance, better lodging tolerance, and improved test weight.

Although AGT-Trigg’s coleoptile length is shorter than Calibre’s, but longer than many other comparators on the market.

AGT-Trigg’s strongest performance has been demonstrated in low to medium-yielding environments, where it has consistently outperformed several leading quick-maturing competitors.

AGT’s WA variety support manager Floyd Sullivan said this adaptability provides an important point of difference.

“While several newer quick-maturing varieties have delivered excellent results in higher-yielding situations, AGT-Trigg has also shown a particular strength in the lower and medium rainfall environments that are common across much of Western Australia,” Mr Sullivan said.

“That ability to maintain strong performance in tougher seasons while still capitalising on favourable conditions is what makes AGT-Trigg such an exciting addition to the WA wheat variety market.”

AGT-Trigg was launched at the Liebe Group Spring Field Day at Kalannie on September 10.

LRPB Atlas shapes up for south

LRPB Atlas has made an impression by topping the yield results in WA’s Mid Spring AH category in its first year of evaluation in the 2025 National Variety Trials.

“Developed from a cross between Scepter and an elite breeding line, Atlas represents the latest generation of Mid Spring AH wheat genetics evaluated in Western Australia,” LongReach Plant Breeders’ WA technical development manager Matu Peipi said.

LRPB WA technical development manager Matu Peipi with LRPB Atlas at a trial site at York in WA. Photo: LRPB

For southern WA growers, where favourable spring conditions can create opportunities to maximise grain production, Atlas has demonstrated the ability to convert seasonal potential into yield while maintaining an AH classification.

“Yield remains a primary driver of variety choice and Atlas has shown it can perform in WA, delivering 6 percent higher yield than Scepter overall in 2025 trials.”

Atlas has a similar maturity to Scepter, and many of its agronomic characteristics, including an erect growth habit, compact canopy, and medium plant height.

LRPB Atlas also offers tolerance to aluminium, boron and acidic soils, traits relevant across parts of the Great Southern and South Coast regions.

Its disease ratings are broadly comparable to current commercial varieties, and include resistance to yellow leaf spot and powdery mildew.

LRPB Atlas recorded the highest yield in WA NVT 2025 results among Mid Spring AH wheat varieties.

LRPB Ripper suits late break

LRPB Ripper (LPB21-41782) is a new quick to mid-maturity AH wheat developed for WA conditions, offering growers an additional option for managing delayed seasonal breaks.

Developed from a cross between Scepter and Vixen, LRPB Ripper combines a quick maturity profile suited to WA farming systems with broad adaptation across a range of environments.

LRPB Ripper topped the 2025 GRDC Main Season NVT in WA.

“Ripper recorded the highest yield in 2025 NVT trials, delivering 5pc above established quick to mid-varieties like Vixen and Calibre.”

“Ripper knows how to deliver yield and fill good quality grain to add security for growers in faster finishing situations.”

LRPB Ripper carries an AH classification and has shown low screenings, high test weight and large grain size, together with strong early vigour and an erect plant type.

Additional agronomic traits include boron and aluminium tolerance, along with improved Powdery Mildew resistance compared with Vixen.

Source: AGT, LRPB