InterGrain’s Combat , the highest yielding barley variety in Western Australia in the 2021 National Variety Trials, is set to win the feed barley battle, with yields above the benchmark variety, Rosalind .
Officially launched by InterGrain Southern WA Territory Manager Georgia Trainor at the SEPWA Condingup spring field day on September 9, this broadly adapted, mid-season feed barley, formerly known by breeding code IGB1944, is a stand-out in InterGrain’s barley breeding program.
InterGrain breeder, David Moody, said Combat was bred to meet grower demand for a high yielding, weed competitive plant type, feed variety, suited to earlier sowing opportunities.
“During four years in InterGrain yield trials and one year in NVT, Combat performed consistently well across a range of cropping regions, particularly in environments below 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
“It’s also shown good adaptability in higher yielding environments,” Mr Moody said.
“Combat offers a good disease resistance package, including very good powdery mildew resistance and spot form of net blotch resistance and useful levels of resistance to leaf rust and the net form of net blotch resistance.
“Combat has an alternative plant type to the currently popular, high yielding feed variety Rosalind .
“Combat ’s semi-prostrate plant growth habit is combined with good early vigour, improving ground cover and weed competition.
“Combat has a much larger grain size than Rosalind resulting in improved grain plumpness.
“Combat gives growers an exceptionally high yielding, mid-season feed barley and is an ideal variety when growers are looking for sowing date flexibility, capable of being sown from late April to late May,” Mr Moody explained.
Combat is available for planting in 2023 from InterGrain Seedclub members and resellers.
InterGrain Southern WA Territory Manager Georgia Trainor launches Combat at the SEPWA field day, Friday, September 9, 2022.
