Thank you to everyone who completed Viterra’s planting survey in July, which will help plan Viterra’s segregations for the 2018/19 harvest.
A summary of the results – including crop profile, barley varieties and lentil varieties for each Port Zone and Site Group – can be found on the Viterra website.
From the 411 respondents across the state, barley hectares have risen by 4 per cent from last year, making up 27 per cent of the total crop.
Wheat and canola have remained relatively unchanged from last year, accounting for 44 and 9 per cent of the state’s crop respectively. Lentil plantings have dropped slightly to 9 per cent.
In barley, the swing to Spartacus has been the most noticeable this year, with a 13 per cent increase in hectares planted to the newly-accredited malt variety.
Spartacus is now the most common barley variety being planted in South Australia, making up 33 per cent of the total barley crop, followed closely by Compass which accounts for 31 per cent.
In lentils, Nippers are by far the most common variety, making up 74 per cent of the lentil crop.
The results of the survey will be used to review Viterra’s preliminary segregation plan in conjunction with discussions with Strategic Site Committees.
Viterra was also pleased to give three $1000 donations to the community groups nominated by the winners of the survey competition.
Congratulations to the winners of the competition: Des Sleep (Camp Quality), Craig Simpson (Jamestown Hospital) and Gavin Rehn (Cleve Ambulance Service).