• In high rainfall areas, the inclusion of an insecticide to control aphids, and therefore reducing the incidence of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) should becoming common practice.
• Yield responses continue to be seen by controlling BYDC (particularly in susceptible varieties).
• In 2011, the control of BYDV also appeared to improve the response to later applied nitrogen.

• In 2010 we saw little effect of varying nitrogen rates on grain yield at Conmurra and Frances
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus decreased grain yield by about 1t/ha at both sites in 2010.
• Highest grain yield was achieved by the earlier sowing dates but very good disease control was required to achieve this. 

• The first sowing date produced the highest grain yields but there was a significant interaction between varieties and sowing date at each site.
• Nitrogen application rate had large effects at both sites while application time had small effects on yield and quality.
• Due to the heat wave in early November, longer season wheat varieties produced lower grain yields than earlier maturing varieties
• Control of BYDV had less effect on grain yield than in previous years.

• Growing conditions in 2016 were very wet and mild, with rainfall from May to September one of
  the wettest on record.
• Growing season rainfall was well above average with 525mm recorded for Rankins Springs and
  532mm for Hillston. There was some waterlogging at the Rankins Springs site due to flooding, which impacted on yield.
• Durum wheat varieties did not perform as well in 2016 at both Rankins Springs and Hillston. 
• Lodging was observed at the dryland site at Rankins Springs, with barley varieties the worst for
  lodging. Compared to 2015, lodging at the irrigated site at Hillston was not as widespread with only a few varieties having lodging scores greater than 5.
• Given the 2016 season, which strongly favoured the performance of longer season varieties, it is important to look at variety performance of this trial, alongside long term NVT results.

• The yield of wheat and barley was double on cultivated fallow compared to chemical fallow medic pasture.
• Cultivation is also known to reduce the numbers of nematodes.

It appears from limited data that in the southern Mallee most of the P. neglectus population is found in the topsoil.

• Across all sites, barley was more productive than wheat on both wheat and canola stubble. However in the binnu trial wheat yields were significantly higher than barley at all nitrogen treatments except the control.  
• Nitrogen is an important component of agronomy of wheat and barley in both canola and wheat rotations. Yields did respond to nitrogen. 

• Commercial viability has been difficult to demonstrate.
• Field trials demonstrated that the H Senor was able to accurately classify annual ryegrass in several broadleaf crops, including canola, faba bean, lentil and field pea.
• Other grass weeds such as brome grass and wild oats were also correctly identified as grasses in these crops.
• Broad leaf weeds were accurately classified in cereal crops, however this was more difficult due to the overlapping nature of the cereal crops at the time when the broadleaf weeds had emerged.
• Classification accuracy was lower for detection of grass weeds in cereal crops and broadleaf weeds in broadleaf crops, and these scenarios were not pursued for that reason.  

• In 2010 we saw little effect of varying nitrogen rates on grain yield at Conmurra or Frances.
• Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus decreased grain yield by about 1 t/ha at both sites in 2010.
• Highest grain yield was achieved by the earlier sowing dates but very good disease control was required to achieve this.

This is the first experiment to evaluate the effect of canopy architecture on wheat yield in Australia. The results show that leaf erectness appears to be an important trait for wheat in Western Australia. Erect leaves allow greater light penetration into the lower canopy.  As a result a larger leaf area and longer duration of greenness is maintained in the canopy over time (Fig. 2), both of which could increase photosynthesis and improve yield (Fig. 3). More data across a wide range of environments are needed to prove the hypothesis, and test other effects on weed competition and disease incidence. We will continue to evaluate this hypothesis with WMG in 2017, and look to broaden our evaluation with future projects beyond that.

• Despite high levels of available soil nitrogen at the start of the season (113 kg/ha N, 0 – 100 cm), there was a significant yield response to applied nitrogen. There was no yield advantage of 100kg/ha N over 50kg/ha N.
• At 50kg/ha N, there was a significant yield advantage (0.47t/ha) from application at GS33 (third node) compared to application pre-sowing.
• At 100kg/ha N, there was a significant yield advantage (0.55t/ha) from application at GS30 above seedbed application. Differences at 50kg/ha were not significant.

• With very low levels of available soil nitrogen and rooting limitations due to salinity at 70cm, there was a significant response to applied nitrogen over the zero N control, but was statistically significant only in treatments that received nitrogen in the seedbed.
• Where nitrogen was applied in-crop at GS31 (14 August) and GS39 (14 September), there was no significant yield response above the control (a result attributed to limited uptake 3.25mm of rain in August, 8.5mm in September).
• While grain protein content increased after seedbed nitrogen applications, there was no protein response to in-crop applications, confirming a lack of nitrogen uptake as a result of limited follow up rainfall.

• In this water-limited scenario, with 70 kg/ha N available in the soil at the start of the season, in-crop nitrogen application served to significantly reduce yield relative to the zero N control.
• Yield depression was strongly significant (p=0.001) when nitrogen was applied at GS30 (start of stem elongation) but was less evident when applied at GS37 (flag leaf first visible).
• Unusually, the yield reduction from GS30 nitrogen timing was associated with higher grain protein than the later flag leaf first visible (GS37) timing. This result looks likely to have been influenced by protein concentration effect accompanying the stronger yield reduction at GS30.

• Grain yields increased with the addition of nitrogen, producing a maximum of 4.64 t/ha, with 75 kg N/ha.
• Nitrogen application timing produced no significant differences to grain yield.
• Crop sensors used at early stem elongation, were able to accurately measure crop nitrogen uptake and tiller number.

• Nitrogen application timing produced no significant differences to grain yield.
• Grain yield was reduced by 12% with the presence of ryegrass.
• Crop sensors were able to accurately measure crop dry matter.

At yield levels just under 1t/ha there was no yield response to applied nitrogen in this trial at either plant population.

If measured purely in terms of yield, nitrogen (N) application was not cost effective in this trial, with 50kg/ha N producing an average yield increase of approximately 0.2t/ha.

On a site with high N at sowing, yields of 2.0-205t/ha were achieved and there was no apparent benefit from N applications of 30 and 60kg N/ha, thus all applied nitrogen treatments lost money relative to the zero nitrogen plots.

Results on a Wimmera clay illustrate that nitrogen application gave a yield increase of 0.82t/ha at 50kg/ha N and 1.13t/ha at 100kg/ha N over the zero N yields of 2.86t/ha.

The slower development of MacKellar compared to Kellalac was associated with a higher tiller count in spring. However this did not translate to higher ear numbers, since with Kellalac 75% of tillers produced an ear, compared to 65% with
MacKellar (in Hamilton the opposite occurred).g/ha Sulphur.

• Bonnie Rock is showing promise as a new high yielding variety for the medium to low rainfall zones.
• As with 2000 and 2001 seasons, the results of this CVT are data for an unusually dry year, and should be treated as such.
• In an average season, the results between varieties would be more than likley to be very different.

• It was a relatively low yielding site, perhaps reflecting the fact that the site was in cereal in 2001 and the soil nitrogen status at planting was very low. Protein figures certainly indicate the fact that soil nitrogen was low 
• All varieties performed equally, although the winter wheat types had slightly lower grain protein than the spring wheat types. 
• The season tended to favour the earlier maturity types such as Chara, although given this, the performance of MacKellar and Brennan was quite acceptable. 

Chara was the top yielding variety in the milling wheat demo site and Brennan was the highest yielder of the winter wheat varieties.

It is important to consider the seasonal risk posed by diseases when developing an appropriate disease management strategy. Avoiding susceptible barley and wheat varieties will significantly reduce the risk of grain yield and quality loss due to disease Both foliar and fertiliser fungicides can both provide effective disease management when applied to coincide with the critical development stages of disease epidemics.

Fungicides had no effect on grain yield.

Under low yield conditions Silverstar is likely to be the highest yielding variety in the Mallee.

Seed and fertiliser dresings and in-crop fungicides did not give a response in wheat in a drought year. Ventura and H45 yielded better than Diamondbird.

• Seed and fertiliser dresings and in-crop fungicides gave responses in wheat that were inconsistant.
• Stripe rust varieties gave less reponse.
• Generally the best response came from spraying at full tillering (Z31).

• Fertiliser dressings gave responses in wheat during 2008.
• There were no responses to in-crop fungicides.
• During the four year of the experiment, the best fungicide treametns have benn the seed and fertiliser treatments and the in-crop fungicide sprays at growth stage Z 39 (flag leaf emergence).

Fungicide strategies are an important component in the fight against stripe rust. Determining the most profitable strategy is paramount for farmers in a year of high input costs. Applying fungicide at critical development stages in this trial showed no significant yield or quality benefits.

No treatment resulted in any yield effects. No disease was detected on the controls throughout the season.

Both cultivar and N fertilizer had significant effects on grain yield. Cultivar Chara, yielded higher (3.83 t/ha) than Wylah (3.34 t/ha). Yields were related to the number of spikelets per head, stem biomass in October plus total and head biomass in November. N fertilizer also increased yields (3.75 t/ha for 175 kg/ha compared with 3.42 t/ha for Nil N applied) by increasing biomass and green area later into the season and by producing more spikelets

• Grain yield responded to the interaction between season, variety, N rate and sowing date.
• The dry finish to the 2015 season meant sowing later reduced yield. Nitrogen application did not affect yield regardless of sowing time.
• The end of 2016 was characterised by a wet and cool finish and yield increased with N, but there was no sowing time effect.
• Nitrogen application generally increased protein. Only in 2015 did late sowing increase protein further.

• Elevated temperature reduced yield by 0.3 – 0.4 t/ha per degree (°C) higher during pre- and post-flowering. •
• The effect of temperature was offset by grain number per m2 .
• Higher N rates may partially mitigate the effect of elevated temperature..

• Pre-sowing: dry seeded some moisture below seeding depth.
• Early season and pre-harvest: dry and hot days caused tipping.

• With an increase in the number of wheat varieties on the market, the issue of varietal tolerance to registered herbicide mixes is increasing.
• Year to year variation can be great, so comments and summary tables are generally based on two or more season’s experimental results

• With an increase in the number of wheat varieties on the market, the issue of varietal tolerance to registered herbicide mixes is increasing.
• Year to year variation can be great, so comments and summary tables are generally based on two or more season’s experimental results

• Previous crop (legume, oaten hay, cereal or fallow) had no effect on wheat grain yield in 2014.
• Grain protein values were lower following a cereal where there was less available soil N at the start of the season.

• Similar yields can be obtained using a number of combinations of seed and fertiliser.
• Low tiller numbers can be recovered by using light amounts of nitrogen.
• There may be opportunities to use much lower inputs and still produce high-yielding and profitable crops.

• Trial reveals that 70 plants per square metre (about 35kg seed) and 5-10 kilograms per hectare of phophorus represent the optimal target plant density and phosphorous input level for wheat.
• Similar yeild results can be obatained using a number of combinations of seed and fertiliser.
• Low tiller numbers can be recovered by using light amounts of nitrogen.

• In high rainfall years, 70 plants /m2 will produce lower yields than crops with higher plant numbers, unless some nitrogen is applied at the five-leaf stage (GS 15).
• If nitrogen is applied at GS 15, similar yields can be obtained.
• There may be opportunities to use phosphours in crop to maximise yields.
• More work needs to be carried out to confirm this.
• Lower than optimal tiller numbers can still produce acceptable yields and water use efficiencies (WUE) in wet years.

• Wheat on wheat uses high inputs.
• Wheat requires a high amount of nitrogen input to yield near its potential in a good year.

• In dry years wheat has little response to extra inputs.
• Avoid using unneessary inputs early to maximise income.

• Wheat repsonds to up to 40 kg of nitrogen (N) even in dry conditions.
• In dry years wheat has not significantly responded to fungicides.
• On average MS susceptible varieties have responded to fungicides.

• Wheat responded to up to 20 kilograms per hectare of nitrogen (N) during 2008.
• Wheat has not significantly responded to fungicides in 2008 or the other dry years.
• Over the full term of the experiment (2005 - 2008), wheat responded significantly to both fungicide and an average of 40kg/ha/yr of nitrogen (range 20 - 80 kg/ha/yr).

• There was significatn rain in early April.
• Main weed problem was radish.

Traditionally sowing wheat in Western Australia was not recommended until after Anzac Day.  A date based on the yield performance and maturities of commercially available wheat varieties in the 1990s. Since then growers have seen the release of Mace, a high yielding and very adaptable variety which at 67% dominates the area sown to wheat in WA in 2015 (Data courtesy of CBH group). Growers are now set up and keen to take advantage of any summer rainfall, but there is limited information on which wheat varieties to grow with a very early sowing opportunity.

Research carried out by James Hunt et al. (2014) suggested that the faster maturing winter wheat Whistler appeared well adapted to WA. When sown in mid-April Whistler was able to yield equivalent or better than Mace planted in late May (Crop Updates 2015). Results from Dandaragan and Katanning trials do support this suggestion but this research also suggests there are commercial varieties currently available in WA which can yield similar or higher and have a superior grain quality classification compared to Whistler. However these varieties can still be at the risk of frost and grain quality problems associated with very early sowings.

At all three sites in this trial series, barley out yielded wheat with both the mid-April and the early May planting (note we have included the predicted yield for barley with mid-April planting at Dandaragan of 7t/ha in this assessment). Barley was over 1.5t/ha better than wheat with both mid-April and early May planting. Whilst this research continues to highlight the need for a wheat variety which is more suitable for early sowing opportunities in Western Australia, growers looking for a cereal to sow in April could consider barley as being their new wheat variety until such wheats are released. Whilst this is only one year of observations there are many reasons to consider barley particularly with mid-April planting ahead of planting a wheat variety, including reduced (but still possible) frost risk.

The feed barley varieties Lockyer, Oxford, Rosalind and Urambie did not provide any yield advantage over those with a ‘malt’ classification at Dandaragan in 2015. The ‘malt’ varieties would therefore have been more profitable than the feed varieties as they were received with a premium over the feed barley varieties (either Malt 1 or Malt 2) at a similar grain yield.

With any early planting opportunity growers need to factor in increased fungicide costs. At Dandaragan powdery mildew and barley leaf rust in the barley plots and yellow spot in the wheat plots had to be controlled, particularly in the mid-April planting.

 

Pre sowing comment: good moisture. Small amount of capeweed and lupins.

Early season comment: dry period after emergence. Some lupins present and a small amount of radish.

Mid season comment: dry periods after frost.

Pre harvest comment: severe frosts during grain fill effected earlier maturing lines.

• In the high yielding 2020 season, flowering earlier than the optimal flowering period resulted in significant yield penalties.
• Grain yield responses varied in response to sowing date, and the highest yields occurred when varietal phenology was matched with the recommended sowing windows.
• A key recommendation for growers is to remain disciplined with sowing dates.

• Phenology and grain yield responses were significantly influenced by seasonal conditions in 2019.
• Severe heat stress and terminal drought conditions favoured faster developing spring genotypes, which achieved the highest grain yields in 2019.
• Grain yield responses varied in response to sowing date, and highest yields occurred when phenology was matched with recommended sowing windows.

• Wheat responded to up to 12 kilograms per hectare of phrosphorus (P) without added nitrogen (N) and to 6kg/ha of phosphorus with added nitrogen.
• Higher fertiliser rates did not improve yield or tiller numbers.

Increasing inputs significantly increased crop emergency for all four varieties, setting up the highest yield potential for the high input treatments, but also increasing the risk of drought stress early in the season.

• Both N and K have influenced wheat growth at the site, to varying degrees.
• Summit’s complex soil test interpretation model recommended 90 kg N for a 3 T/ha wheat crop based on the soil sample analyses at this site. With a growing season rainfall of 300 mm and the responses in this trial, an N recommendation of 80 kg/ha appears appropriate.
• Potassium recommendations from the Summit model were 20 kg K for a 3 T/ha wheat crop. Potassium recommendations will be much more dependent on soil characteristics and laboratory test results, but even on the duplex soil at the site, 10 to 20 kg K/ha looks to be of benefit in helping plants to maximise the potential growth benefits from top-up nitrogen applications.
• Mace wheat utilises N nutrition for yield, on the whole, but protein does increase somewhat with increasing N application and targeting higher delivery grades is possible if desired.

Despite weed competition, less-than-ideal winter weather and soil conditions, wheat responded to both P and N application at this site. Grower returns on fertilizer investment were best with P applied at 8 to 16 kg/ha and N applied at 40 kg/ha. Greater response and returns from increased fertilizer application may be expected with improved early-to-mid season moisture conditions and less weed competition.

Under the 2013 growing season conditions, there was no advantage to wheat growth and grain yield in the use of a polymer-coated urea product.

Two years of trials at Forbes on low Zn soils show no indication of wheat response to Zn fertiliser. There is some evidence that Zn deficiency in wheat can be intensified by SU herbicides. However, the critical soil Zn levels needed to justify Zn fertiliser use in wheat grown on lower pH soils treated with SU herbicides is unknown. Fertiliser test strips over a number of years have an important role to play in determining potential Zn responsiveness.

• The harvest results show the gains to be made from the banded application of phosphorus and nitrogen to wheat crops grown in the southern Mallee.
• Carefully assess soil fertility prior to sowing of cereals and canola to ensure dollars spent on the most profitable nutrient combination for each paddock.
• Plan on balanced nutrition of crops to optimise farm profits.

• Nitrogen applied during stem elongation significantly improved grain yield and protein.
• The higher density crop produced greater yields for both row spacings.
• There was little difference in grain yield between the row spacings.

The plant roots in this trial were not assessed for disease incidence and there were no above ground symptoms of any diseases, however results (although not statistically significant) show some modest yield increases at Gnarwarre that are consistent with the other trials conducted in Victoria.

The objective of this GRDC / SPAA funded project is to increase the level of adoption of PA 'beyond guidance' by broadacre farmers. The project specifically aims to increase the level of adoption of variable rate (VR) by growers in the project to 30% by 2013.This goal will be achieved by demonstrating how to use PA tools to growers at a regional level and by increasing the skills of growers and industry in PA to a level where they can then use PA tools in their farming systems to achieve economic, environmental and social benefits.

• The average sowing rate in low rainfall zones is 50 kg/ha.
• Increasing seeding rates is generally not helpful for yield as moisture is limiting in this zone.
• Higher seeding rates can have other benefits such as reducing weed burdens.

• Wheat did not respond significanly to additional sulphur (S).
• Wheat did not respond significantly to additional zinc (Zn).

As this trial was only a demonstration of different wheat varieties commonly grown over the last 110 years there was no replication within the trial and therefore no statistics can be calculated from the data collected. This means the results presented in this report cannot be compared to each other with a high level of confidence.
 

• The flowering time response of varieties was influenced by sowing time. 
• Managing a varieties sowing time to target flowering within a flowering window is one tool to manage risk of reduced yield reduction and frost damage risks. 
• The estimated flowering window in the northern districts is August 16th to September 9th.  Early maturing varieties such as Emu Rock, Bonnie Rock, Supreme and Westonia achieve 50% flowering before August 18th when sown on May the 9th
• Mid –long maturing varieties such as Calingiri, Cutlass and Zen, flowered after September 9th when sown on the 2nd of June.
• Mace wheat is a parent of Scepter, and both are considered mid-long maturing wheats.  However, the development of Scepter wheat at the trial site in 2016 was longer than Mace.  Scepter reached the start of flowering approximately 6 days after Mace when sown in either May and June.  It yielded similarly to Mace at the first sowing time but significantly better at the second sowing time.
• The cooler temperatures and the higher rainfall have benefited production of the longer maturing wheats which have some adaptation for the northern region. 

There was no response to any trace elements or mixtures of trace elements, except zinc. Sinc responses may occur in red oils particularly ifa Chlorsulphuron herbicide, like logran is used. Ainc produced significantly more tillers but not a yield response.

Best options for the 2002 season are: ƒ

• Yitpi for low rainfall, sodic or light textured soils, particularly where boron levels are high.
• Mitre for medium rainfall, alkaline to slightly acid soils ƒ
• Chara for medium to high rainfall and irrigation on neutral to acid soils
•  H45 as a late sowing option where CCN is controlled.

The incentive to grow AH over APW varieties is small when wheat is pooled under the golden rewards payment system.

• Average yield for all varieties was 5.2t/ha, with Scout (5.86t/ha), IGW 3073 (5.95t/ha) and IGW 3119 (5.86t/ha) topping the yields.
• Correll, Gladius and Catalina yielded similarly to Yitpi (at 5t/ha).
• The higher yielding varieties - Scout, Magenta, Mace and InterGrain (Nuseed)- lines, were the most profitable.

• Espada, Lincoln and Correll yielded 10% higher than Yitpi at Woomelang.
• Gladius achieved H2 quality and was the most profitable on this occasion.
• Yitpi is likely to remain the main variety grown, though interest in Correll, Derrimut and Gladius is growing.

• There are no standout wheat varieties for the Wimmera.
• Scout yielded well in this trial but limited data are available.

• Trojan and Beckom were the highest yielding in the Mallee and Trojan, Cosmick and Scepter topped the yields in the Wimmera.
• There was a 0.5t/ha advantage in having earlier sowing varieties in the Wimmera (sown on 18 May), over later sowing
• Cosmick, Corack and Mace have performed consistently well over the last six years in NVT, showing their adaptability to these regions regardless of sowing time.

Corack, Cosmick and Correll were soild performers in the Mallee in 2014.

Mace and Shield were the highest yielding varieties in the Wimmera (Horsham).

Mace, Scout an Corack topped the variety trial in the West Wimmera (Nhill). 

Corack and Mace have been solid performers for the past three years across the Wimmera and Mallee regions. 

 

• The most intense of three heat events avegarged 35.5 degrees celcius and reduced grain numbers per spikelet by 21%.
• Significant genetic variation was observed for floret sterility induced by natural heat events. The variety Halberd was identified as most heat tolerant and Westonia as most heat sensitive.
• The results indicate a genetic variation that could be exploited to improve wheat crop resilience under heat stress. 

The best performing varieties at the Berriwillock trial site (central Mallee) in 2003 were Annuello, H45 and Yitpi. The worst performing variety in the trial was JNZ Clearfield.

• Scepter was the highest yielding variety (or equal highest) at Berriwillock, Quambatook and Pira (based on one year of data only).
• Earlier maturing varieties such as Corack, Mace, Derrimut and Hatchet CL Plus tended to be higher-yielding than later maturing varieties.
• In Mallee National Variety Trials (NVT) Corack, Mace, Cosmick and Shield have been higher than the site mean for the last five years. 
• When averaged over the last five years, Mace, Corack, Cosmick, Scout and Derrimut have yielded better than the site mean in Wimmera NVTs. 

There was no influence of seeding rate on crop production in 2012 at Mullewa when the crop was sown close to the break. However there was a yield penalty with the higher seeding rate when the sowing time was delayed by a month. These results are in contrast to 2011 at Mullewa . Increasing seeding rate increased crop production when sown close to the break and there was no effect on  roduction with increasing seeding rate when seeding was delayed.

Emergence: 

Emergence was staggered for the first sown treatments only. This is because seeding was on the 11th May into a drying seed bed. It had rain ed in April and early May. The second sowing time was on the 7th June. Rainfall in June was 56 mm.The seeding rate treatments targeted 100, 200 and 300 plants/m2. The actual plant population was 100, 147 and 200 plants/m2 respectively (averaged across variety and sowing time). The range in ears produced across treatments was not large however it was a significantly different between the highest (145 ears/m2) and the lowest seeding rate (137 ears/2) (ave across variety and sowing time).

Yield:

At Mullewa, there was no interaction between seeding rate, sowing time and variety on crop yield. However, there was an interaction between seeding rate and sowing time on crop production for all varieties. When sown close to the break of the season, changing seeding rates did not affect crops yields significantly. In contrast to the first sowing time, the grain yield (averaged across all varieties) was significantly reduced at the higher actual plant population compared to the middle and lower targe ted plant populations of 100 and 147 plants/m2. Delaying seeding by a month later, reduced crop production by 500 - 600 kg/ha. This equates to 20kg/day/ha.

Emu Rock, Mace and Corack were the higher yielding varieties at each sowing time. Emu Rock and Mace are AH varieties, Corack is an APW variety.

Quality:

There was no influence of seeding time, plant density or variety on grain protein (P>0.05). Initial assessment of grain screenings includes whole and cracked grain. Except for Emu Rock, screenings of all varieties were lower than 5% when sown at the first sowing time (P<0.05). Observations of Emu Rock at harvest suggest the screenings are a result of mechanical damage, rather than small grain (further measurements are to be undertaken to assess this).

.

Sowing time has a greater influence on production of all wheat varieties than seeding rate. Weed competition is one factor which can limit early sowing and increasing crop competition through increasing plant density has been demonstrated as a useful non chemical tool to reduce weed growth. The research has demonstrated that increasing plant density did not adversely affect crop yield or grain quality of crops sown close to the break of the season in May however higher plant densities of varieties sown in June did reduce yield of wheat varieties.There was no influence of seeding rate on crop production in 2012 at Mullewa when the crop was sown close to the break. However there was a yield penalty with the higher seeding rate when the sowing time was delayed by a month. These results are in contrast to 2011 at Mullewa. Increasing seeding rate increased crop production when sown close to the break and there was no effect on production with increasing seeding rate when seeding was delayed.

A very dry year resulted in wheat yields being depressed, particularly with the later maturing varieties. Despite this, a number of varieties, both commercial and experimental, yielded very well.

A very dry year resulted in wheat yields being depressed, particularly with the later maturing varieties. Despite this, a number of varieties, both commercial and experimental, yielded very well.

The trial was very well grown, with no problems that may have impacted on the quality of the data generated. There were significant visual differences observed between the sprayed and unsprayed treatments, particularly in varieties such as Mitre and Chara.

With many varieties showing a high level of rust resistance throughout this trial (see Figure 3-2), it also appears that those varieties have lower quality or are classified feed. The only variety to show significant yield benefits from using fungicide is the only variety to have AH classification - Mitre.

• Carnamah was the highest yielding variety and returned the greatest gross margin.
• Two recently released varieties, Blanco and Shenton, don't appear to be well suited to this environment.
• There was no rust seen in this trial. If disease was present some of the newer varieties may have performed better than Carnamah and Wyalkatchem.