Western Australia's barley growers will face tightened grain standards during harvest, with the Grains Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) reviewing its standards in order to meet end-user demands.
The changes, which will be in place for the coming delivery season, include the introduction of a new barley feed grade, tightening of the number of snail shells per half-litre sample and also a reduction of the ryegrass ergot standard, according to an article recently published by ABC Rural.
The review of barley standards began in October 2015, during which time it went through two rounds of consultation. Chairman of GIWA barley council Steve Tillbrook said WA's two main grain handlers, CBH and Bunge, had both opted to take on the recommendations.
Mr Tillbrook said the most significant change would be the reduction of snail numbers per sample. The tolerance for snails in feed barley has been tightened to two whole snail-shells per half-litre sample, down from 10.
Mr Tillbrook said, while the changes would be tough for some, they were necessary, "The biggest reason for the changes in the snails, and it's probably catching us a little unaware here in Western Australia because it's sort of something that is reasonably new, is data from CBH that says over the last five years the number of snails detected between one and 10 [per half-litre sample] has doubled in number every year," he said.
"Our international markets are starting to jump up and down, they are saying that if the trader sends over something that's not within spec they will then ban that trader."
In reaction to the tightened standards, GIWA also recommended an additional feed barley grade be implemented for the coming harvest, with a maximum snail tolerance of five.
Mr Tillbrook said he expected this would be used widely. "The thought behind that was, it's better off to have snails put in a heap of feed two, rather than in feed one because if you put the snails into feed one it means you've got to get enough clean grain to counteract it and that's getting harder to happen in a deregulated market with numerous traders," he said.
He said they have suggested a AUS$5 price difference between the two feed grades. The review committee also recommended WA ryegrass ergot standards for both malt and feed barley be tightened from 5cm to 3cm in a stepped progressions over two harvests.
Ergot is crop fungi that can be poisonous to humans or mammals if consumed.The standards will be brought down from 4cm for the 2016–17 harvest and 3cm the following year.
GIWA is also looking for support into areas of Falling Number, market preference for barley colour and chemical residue measurement on the crop.
Read more HERE.
The review of barley standards began in October 2015, during which time it went through two rounds of consultation. Chairman of GIWA barley council Steve Tillbrook said WA's two main grain handlers, CBH and Bunge, had both opted to take on the recommendations.
Mr Tillbrook said the most significant change would be the reduction of snail numbers per sample. The tolerance for snails in feed barley has been tightened to two whole snail-shells per half-litre sample, down from 10.
Mr Tillbrook said, while the changes would be tough for some, they were necessary, "The biggest reason for the changes in the snails, and it's probably catching us a little unaware here in Western Australia because it's sort of something that is reasonably new, is data from CBH that says over the last five years the number of snails detected between one and 10 [per half-litre sample] has doubled in number every year," he said.
"Our international markets are starting to jump up and down, they are saying that if the trader sends over something that's not within spec they will then ban that trader."
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| Source: ABC Rural |
Mr Tillbrook said he expected this would be used widely. "The thought behind that was, it's better off to have snails put in a heap of feed two, rather than in feed one because if you put the snails into feed one it means you've got to get enough clean grain to counteract it and that's getting harder to happen in a deregulated market with numerous traders," he said.
He said they have suggested a AUS$5 price difference between the two feed grades. The review committee also recommended WA ryegrass ergot standards for both malt and feed barley be tightened from 5cm to 3cm in a stepped progressions over two harvests.
Ergot is crop fungi that can be poisonous to humans or mammals if consumed.The standards will be brought down from 4cm for the 2016–17 harvest and 3cm the following year.
GIWA is also looking for support into areas of Falling Number, market preference for barley colour and chemical residue measurement on the crop.
Read more HERE.
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