Agriculture
29 May, 2024
Ground sown for testing
CANOLA trial crops have been planted at a Bridgewater North research site to asses how products behave in the local environment. Pioneer’s territory sales manager for eastern Victoria, Tim Lovell, said the local research site was one of 19 used...
CANOLA trial crops have been planted at a Bridgewater North research site to asses how products behave in the local environment.
Pioneer’s territory sales manager for eastern Victoria, Tim Lovell, said the local research site was one of 19 used across Australia for early testing of products and seed and technical research in key environments.
“The geographical diversity helps us understand how products behave in different environments,” he said.
“Researchers will take regular notes on the canola hybrids between now and harvesting in November.”
Mr Lovell said the journey from initial testing to commercialisation of seeds took seven years.
Testing sites were used to also demonstrate “what can be achieved with yield”.
“We want growers to be as profitable as possible and to do that, we need as much information as possible.”
Farm consultant Dave Smyth said a series of field days would be held at the site over the next five months.
“Some of the varieties at this site may be the next high performing commercial hybrid,” Mr Smyth said. “The site at Bridgewater North is a significant investment for research in the region.”
Mr Lovell said recent rain was helingp the test crop’s early growth.