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Schulz family recognised for national oat breeding contribution
The National Oat Breeding Program has recognised the seven year contribution a Yorke Peninsula family has made to its success.
South Kilkerran farmer Lyall Schulz and his family, including wife Cynthia and sons Scott and Brett have been responsible for facilitating the oats breeding program on their property.
The Schulz family’s involvement began in 2004 with trial plots from the national breeding program.
The family is also involved with the initial and ongoing multiplication of improved hay varieties released from the National Breeding Program through the Australian Field Crop Association (AFCA) which is the sole seed multiplier for AEXCO.
Australian Exporters Company (AEXCO) is a not for profit organisation that represents the majority of export hay processors located in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, and southern New South Wales. The company was formed to tender for commercialising rights for new oat hay variety releases.
AEXCO was selected by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) as the successful company to commercialise new hay varieties beginning in 2001. Money collected by AEXCO goes back into the industry to fund much needed research and development and build future export markets for all farmers.
“We started with two tonnes of Wintaroo basic seed which has now produced 1.4 m tonnes of export hay nationally,” Mr Schulz said.
“From a small beginning it has turned into a very big success story. It’s been a pleasure to work with SARDI Principal Plant Breeder Dr Pamela Zwer, SARDI Manager Oat Development Peter McCormack and the whole national oat breeding program team.”
Dr Zwer said two new hay varieties, Tammar and Forester will be available to growers in 2012.
Tammar is about seven to 10 days later than Wintaroo and Forester is about three weeks later than Wintaroo.
Balco Australia Marketing Director Murray Smith, who is also Chairman of AEXCO said the National Oat Breeding Program which concentrates on both hay and grain is the only program that develops oat hay varieties in the world.
“We are conscious of the need to continually improve the quality of our hay to the export market,” Mr Smith said.
“As the end users around the world continually look to enhance their production outcomes it is imperative our growers continue to improve quality so they can achieve it, the National Oat Breeding Program is pivotal to this success as without them we would still be growing varieties with little or no disease resistance. The domestic market is also getting the flow on benefits of this initiative with the improved agronomic and quality traits.”
SARDI Executive Director Professor Pauline Mooney thanked Mr Schulz for his contribution and presented him with a plaque at the Plant Research Centre at the Waite on 11 October.
Caption
Pictured at the Plant Research Centre at the Waite are, from left, Professor Pauline Mooney, Lyall Schulz, Peter McCormack, Murray Smith, and Dr Pamela Zwer.(high resolution image 96.9 KB)
Further information: Contact Lyall Schulz 0418 859544 or SARDI Communications Terry Price 8303 9433 / 0423 292867
