Summary

The focus of the National Oat Breeding Program is to improve productivity and quality in new oat varieties developed for hay, feed, and food. Breeding priorities identified to achieve these goals include improved hay and grain yield, disease resistance, enhanced hay and grain quality, and superior agronomic characters. The National Oat Breeding Program works closely with the whole value chain including growers, industry, marketers, and consumers to ensure the breeding priorities meet their needs.
The National Oat Breeding Program is centralised at SARDI with a node at DAFWA. Due to different production constraints in eastern and western Australia breeding lines are selected in the respective regions. Agronomic traits and disease reactions are evaluated at seven sites in South Australia (SA) and five sites in Western Australia (WA). Dry matter production and hay quality are evaluated for the most advanced breeding lines at three sites in SA, three sites in WA, and one site in Victoria.
The decision to release a new variety is based on two criteria, the advanced breeding has improved features and will replace a current variety or it offers new options to a link in the value chain. AEXCO commercialises new varieties from the program.

Program

Export Fodder

Research Organisation

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development acting through the South Australian Research and Development Institute

Objective Summary

As part of the National Oat Breeding Program improve oat varieties for export and domestic hay production. The national scope of the program will ensure oat hay varieties are adapted to the southern region of Australia. Industry interaction in the breeding program is essential for identifying breeding priorities for hay variety development.