THE BUZZ surrounding new barley variety Spartacus CL continues to grow, with farmers suggesting it could be one of their best yielding barley crops ever this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Riverina farmer Andy Ryan, Rankin Springs, said after choosing Spartacus this year due to its performance in National Variety Trials (NVT), he was optimistic of a big crop just weeks out from harvest.
“This is the first year I’ve grown Spartacus CL,” Andy said.
“I kept a close eye on the variety in the National Variety Trials and saw that it performed really well – which got me excited.”
Spartacus CL is the most recent barley variety released from the collaboration between Syngenta and InterGrain and has Clearfield traits, is high yielding and has a strong disease profile.
It is seen as the natural replacement for Scope CL barley.
“The main reason we are looking to move to Spartacus CL is due to its yield advantage compared to Scope CL,” Mr Ryan said.
“We used to chase malt, however it really isn’t a big deal in our area anymore as we have feedlots on our doorstep – so we’re now mainly looking for yield.
“We’ve grown a seed increase of Spartacus CL next door to our Scope CL with the intention tof switching to Spartacus CL altogether next season.”
“Height is also a big issue for us, and a variety like Spartacus CL that is a semi-dwarf really appealed to me.
Mr Ryan has big expectations that his seed increase block of Spartacus CL will be some of the best yields he has been able to achieve.
“I’m expecting Spartacus CL to out-yield Scope CL and think we are looking at 4.5 tonnes to the hectare for my Spartacus CL – that will be our best yield of barley ever,” he said.
Simon Bonny, local Senior Sales Manager for Syngenta, is not surprised with the rapid adoption of Spartacus CL in his area due to the 10-15 per cent yield advantage it has achieved compared to Scope CL in NVT trials over the past two years.
“It’s a real step forward as a Clearfield barley variety.
“It’s currently undergoing its first year of malt accreditation with an announcement on its final accreditation decision expected in March 2018.
“If it is successful it will be a real benefit to growers in my area,” Mr Bonny said.
Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
