A key aim of this project is through three years of trials to deliver key elements of a demonstrated and communicated variety specific HRZ Noodle Wheat production package. This purpose of the HRZ package is to increase noodle wheat quantity and quality and reduce downgrade risk.

A second aim of the project is to provide greater diversity and options for crop rotations in the southern HRZ – the current dominant rotation of canola: barley is under threat with more disease and chemical resistance.

Growing noodle wheat in the HRZ, has traditionally been considered a risky, due to the risk of not making ANW1, this project aimed to quantify this risk, by comparing wheat varieties, and how the perform in the HRZ.

Modern noodle wheat verities Kinsai, Ninja and Zen, yielded higher than Calingari in almost every trial conducted by SCF between 2016 and 2018.

Southern HRZ noodle wheat growers reduce the of downgrades resulting form falling numbers and germ ed staining y sowing noodle wheat later in the program. 

Southern HRZ growers try to avoid planting noodle wheat within 30km of the coast to reduce the risk of harvest rain, and the resulting downgrades. 

Southern growers reduce grain quality risks by prioritizing the harvest noodle varieties. Noodle wheat should be harvested once the crop is ripe and the moisture falls below 13%. HRZ growers can harvest noodle wheat at above 13%, and be dried if economically feasible. 

Kinsai had the highest cumulative yield over the span of the project. Kinsai has good physical characteristics and provides a general udon quality improvement compared to Calingari and Ninja. 

A tailored agronomy package is necessary to maximise yields and reduce the risk of missing quality grades in the HRZ. 

Sowing noodle wheat later in the sowing program will mitigate the risk of late-season rain impacting the grain quality. 

High yielding noodle wheat, that achieves ANW grade can result in similar gross margins to barley and canola.