Recent trends in the use of sprout testing technology in Australia

Abstract

There are a number of climate risks for grain production in Australia. These include drought, which can lead to delayed planting as well as early harvesting, increases in mean temperatures and also extreme temperature events ranging from heat to frost. Rain at harvest in particular has been a major factor affecting grain quality. This was highlighted by the record wet harvest in eastern and southern Australia in 2010/2011. The current 2011/2012 harvest is proving to be another wet season across the majority of growing regions, including Western Australia this time. This has resulted in a significant increase in weather damage testing at grain receival sites across the country. Up until the past few years, weather damage testing equipment such as Falling Number instruments were stocked in limited numbers by grain handlers. The units were deployed sporadically, often only once every three to four years. There was also a high usage of visual assessment for sprouted grains. This paper describes the changes that have taken place in weather damage testing of wheat and barley in Australia in the past two years. There has been a significant increase in the number of Falling Number instruments utilised for grain receival testing. Work practises have significantly improved in terms of training of receival site staff, as well as regular maintenance and check sample testing programmes. RVA technology is also now used for providing Stirring Number analysis for malting barley varieties.