Mullewa farming brothers Andrew and Rod Messina the front cover stars of this year’s WA Crop Sowing Guide

A pair of farm brothers from Mullewa have found low-key fame as the stars of the front cover of this year’s WA Crop Sowing Guide. The annual guide — produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — aims to help farmers plan next year’s sowing program. Andrew and Rod Messina were selected out of all of the State’s 4000 or so grain growers to feature on this year’s front cover. The picture, captured by roaming photographer Ben Crosthwaite, shows the pair standing in front of their new custom Morris box, Alpha toolbar and disc machine. “We were pretty surprised but quite humbled to be on the front page of the guide,” Rod said. “We use the guide to keep tabs on different crop varieties and what might perform well ahead of seeding. It gives you an idea of what might work on your farm. “We’re already thinking about seeding because we bought a disc machine this year, but we still have quite a lot to learn about it.” The Messinas are about three quarters through harvesting their 14,000 program with plans to finish in about two weeks’ time. The online and hard copy publication is targeted at farmers and agronomists and provides a one-stop-shop for crop variety and agronomic information. It includes detailed variety guides for wheat, barley, oats, canola and pulses, including lupins, lentils, field pea, chickpea, faba beans and vetch. Market advice is also a key part of the document, with a weaker market for malt barley and robust demand for feed barley pegged to continue due to China trade wars. Farmers spoilt for choice with more grain varieties than ever have been urged to do their research when considering their 2022 crop mix. Growers considering which barley variety to sow have been urged to consider market demand, pricing signals, segregation sites and the risk of delivering malt barley. DPIRD crop science and grain production manager Bob French said the “valuable reference document” had been updated with the latest industry developments. “It will assist growers to make informed decisions about crop and variety selection, backed by NVT data, disease resistance ratings and agronomic advice,” he said. “It is particularly useful for growers considering a new crop variety, allowing them to compare yields, quality and disease traits. “It also takes into account farm diversity, risk mitigation and current market requirements.” WA grain growers spoilt for choice with three new wheat varieties, eight new barley varieties, 11 canola varieties, and two new pulse varieties available for 2022. New wheat offerings include Australian Grain Technologies’ Calibre, Pacific Seeds’ LRPB Avenger, and InterGrain’s Valiant CL Plus varieties. There are four new barley varieties to choose from including AGT varieties Beast, Cyclops, Minotaur and InterGrain variety Commodus CL. The document also includes updated information on Buff, Laperouse, and Maximus CL. A whopping 11 canola varieties are on offer, including a new new herbicide tolerant type — InVigor LT453OP — which combines triazine tolerance and Liberty Link. The list also includes the first two new TT open pollinated varieties released since 2015, DG Murray (by Seednet) and DG Bidgee (by Nutrien). Dr French urged canola farmers to select the most appropriate variety for their farming system, with soaring canola prices expected to coincide with a seed shortage. While there were no new oat varieties released this year, Dr French said there were “indications” there would be new grain and hay varieties in coming years. He said growers would continue to use established varieties to satisfy demand for “high-quality, food grade oat grain, and feed-grade oaten hay”. Dr French said there may also be the chance to source seed for two new pulse varieties next year — chickpea variety CBA Captain and faba bean line CBA Captain. “The chickpea variety CBA Captain, which combines top yield with greater harvest height, is proving to be a popular option,” he said. “Faba bean line PBA Amberley, with its excellent chocolate spot resistance, will be valuable to growers in medium-high rainfall areas, where disease is of concern.” The guide also includes data from the Grains Research Development Corporation’s National Variety Trials. It can be downloaded for free at agric.wa.gov.au, with hard copies available from some rural suppliers.