More focus on milling oats

CBH will not accept certain varieties of feed oats from next harvest in its Oat2 segregation.

Instead, the Oat2 grade will become a second milling-only food grade segregation.

Oat1 will remain in place for premium food grade milling and processing.

The move reflects the WA oat industry's focus toward milling oats for human consumption, as demand continues to grow, and follows the Grains Industry Association of WA's review of the Oats Varietal List in 2013.

The move to close the Oats2 stack to feed oats was initially intended for the 2014-2015 harvest, but this timeline was shifted back to the 2015-2016 harvest by CBH to allow growers of minor feed varieties more time to find alternative marketing arrangements.

GIWA Oats council chairman Will Carrington-Jones said there was an exciting future for oats with significant demand from Asia and elsewhere for human consumption.

"The big challenge will be for supply to keep up with demand and I expect forward contracts will become very important for traders," he said.

In light of the changes GIWA is urging growers to review their planting options for next season.

Two new varieties released in recent years are deemed particularly suitable for milling grade oats, and are also performing well as oaten hay varieties.

Mr Carrington-Jones said the introduction of these two new varieties has been a jump forward for the industry.

Both Williams, released in 2013, and Bannister, released in 2012, are high yielding varieties suitable for WA production.

Mr Carrington-Jones predicted 90 per cent of all oat deliveries across the State would be either of these varieties in the next two years.

Carolup, released in 1993, is a lower yielding premium milling variety.

Meanwhile, grain of minor feed and hay varieties may still be marketed through oat processors and traders, subject to market demand.

_OFF THE LIST _

The following varieties will no longer be eligible for delivery into Oat2 segregations provided by CBH for the 2015-2016 season:

Avon, Ballidu, Bandicoot, Bettong, Brusher, Bulban, Cassia, Condamine, Cooba, Dale, Dalyup, Dolphin, Echidna, Esk, Euro, Fulmark, Glider, Hakea, Hill, Irwin, Kalgan, Kangaroo, Kent, Lort, Marloo, Massif, Moore, Mulgara, Murray, Needilup, Numbat, Possum, Potoroo, Quoll, Stout, Swan, Toodyay, Tungoo, Vasse, Wallaroo, West, Winjardie, Wintaroo, Wongan and Yilgarn.