blog

Video

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:52:14 +1200

Number one for persistence.

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:13:08 +1300

David Elworthy and his brother Jamie operate Burrenderry, a mixed farm 15km east of Gundagai in New South Wales. They run a self replacing flock of around 2000 Corridales and 60-70 cows, buying in supplementary steers and heifers. They also grow enough crops to be self-sufficient for their own needs, and occasionally plant an opportunity crop when conditions are suitable.

Getting the best out of their pastures during the harsh conditions of long term drought played an important role in the decision to plant Stamina GT6, a lucerne variety bred for persistence and grazing tolerance.

David said, “I’d been watching the early field trials of Stamina GT6 on a local property to evaluate it. We’d kept an eye on the Stamina GT6 line and were impressed with the persistence and grazing tolerance, being lucky enough to get seed the first year it was released to market.”

“I sowed down 20 hectares of Stamina GT6 that first year, and it’s still going strong six years later. I initially planted it out primarily for hay and for late grazing. The hay is good quality, but it’s the grazing tolerance that’s won me over.”

“We finish about 1000 second cross lambs each year and lucerne is an important tool for fattening them. Stamina GT6 has offered unparalleled persistence and grazing tolerance, and it’s been a big winner in our dryland conditions.”

“Because of drought there were several years that we weren’t able to plant lucerne, but for the last three years running, I’ve planted 42 hectares to Stamina GT6.

“I’m finding Stamina GT6 suitable to our area and our conditions. It’s definitely number one for persistence.”

David Elworthy, Burrenderry, Gundagai, New South Wales

Wrightson Seeds would like to welcome aboard two new sales agronomists - Dean Harrington in Western Victoria and Matthew Ballantyne in South Australia.

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:21:14 +1300

Dean comes to Wrightson Seeds after previously managing the retail business for Rodwell’s Boort for the past 7½ years.
Dean has a strong background in agronomy and is particularly focussed on brassicas as part of an overall farming system.

Matt comes to Wrightson Seeds from Millicent Farm Supplies where he worked as an agronomist for the last five years. Prior to this Matt worked for two large corporate firms in Millicent and Penola. Matt is highly experienced in Beef/Sheep production systems and break crops for broadacre farming systems.

Both Matt and Dean look forward to servicing your requirements for the coming season in their respective territories.

Dean Harrington can be contacted on 0418 568 401

Matthew Ballantyne can be contacted on 0418 667 294

Research Station open day helps to open eyes.

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:15:49 +1300

Research Station open day helps to open eyes.

It may be a surprise to learn that many years, and sometimes even decades, of research goes into development of a new pasture cultivar before it is ready to be launched to the market.

That’s what more than 130 primary producers and agronomists from around Victoria and Tasmania discovered when they visited the PGG Wrightson Seeds Research Station just outside Ballarat on Thursday 18th November.

Participating in an Open Day that aimed to share as much information as possible, producers were offered the opportunity to learn from several experts in their fields about the ‘behind the scenes’ work that Wrightson Seeds undertakes to ensure that every product that bears the brand name is the very best it can be. As well as this, producers were encouraged to ask questions and challenge researchers, and to give their input and feedback to help provide a valuable two-way exchange that the researchers also benefit from.

Producers learnt that Wrightson Seeds have been part of the Australian landscape for 77 years, and with the largest temperate pasture seed portfolio in the country, lead the way in research and development in this important sector.

In his introduction, National Sales Manager Kelly Burke made the point that all R&D undertaken by Wrightson Seeds is resolutely solution focused rather than simply product focused.

Kelly said, “It’s about getting the best performance out of a particular crop in a particular circumstance at a particular time of the year. We aim to deliver the solutions growers need to ensure their business is profitable.” He went on to add, “To help us achieve this, we have eight full-time staff in R&D. Our trials cover six sites in several states, including the Research Station here in Ballarat which has been our base for the last 12 years. We are currently undertaking 130 fully replicated trials in Australia. ”

Participants spent the day moving around various parts of the Research Station, focusing on topics that included grazing tolerant lucernes, new brassica developments, maximising winter feed supply, improved endophyte options and new varieties of perennial and annual ryegrass. Wrightson Seeds speakers included Andrew Dumbleton, Forage Brassica Breeder; Mike Norris, Ryegrass Plant Breeder; Rob Salmon, Product Development Manager; James Sewell, Research Agronomist; and Reg Hill, Australian Research Manager.

Andrew Dumbleton, an extremely passionate researcher based in New Zealand, heads up the only forage brassica breeding program in the world today. Equally relevant to each speaker’s work no matter what plant species, Andrew said that plant breeding was like putting a jigsaw together. He explained, “A new cultivar is pieced together bit by bit. It might take anywhere between five and ten years, sometimes longer, to finish a line that proves worthy of release.”

Andrew also went on to add, “It’s fair to say 98% of lines are failures, and 1-2% come up with traits that combine to be of interest. It’s these innovations I am looking for.” Participants found the demonstrations and explanations at plots dedicated to each species interesting and informing. More than one grower commented it was helpful to see so many cultivars growing in one place at one time so they could judge characteristics and performance for themselves. For instance, one trial showed the persistence of 20 different lucerne cultivars after 5 years. Such a trial replicates the real-world conditions producers are interested in seeing.

Dairy, beef and prime lamb producers all had opportunities to ask questions particular to their needs. Rob Salmon made the point several times that without the questions and feedback from producers on days such as these, the work in R&D could not be as responsive and market driven.

Well known ‘Lambassador’ Sam Kekovich provided the lunchtime entertainment. Not exactly what could be called a traditional keynote address, Sam covered a multitude of material, both serious and irreverent. He had the shed full of producers and researchers in stitches of laughter from start to finish, while at the same time conveying the high level of esteem and respect he has for the people who help put food on our plates.

Rob Salmon said, “I’m not sure who gets the most out of days like these, the producers who we invite to come along, or the researchers who gain so much of their valuable feedback.

“It’s definitely an exchange. We like it that way,” he concluded.

Wrightson Seeds Launch New Website

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:55:29 +1300

Welcome to Wrightson Seeds new website, the place to find information on cultivars and technologies that can add value to your farming system. This website contains a new feature called 'My Pages' that allows you to create your own brochure online.

To get started:
Visit our Performance Bred Product Range
'Save To My Pages' the cultivars you are interested in
Then either continue to add more pages or go directly to 'My Pages' to create your brochure.
My Pages is located at the top of the Wrightson Seeds homepage.

Wrightson Seeds is also on FaceBook, join to view photos and recieve updates on events in your local farming community.
Don't forget to post a photo of your Wrightson Seeds cultivars to enter our competition and win.

We also welcome your feedback on our new website - email your comments to info@wrightsonseeds.com.au