WITH a 9000 hectare cropping program in WA's tough north eastern Wheatbelt, the Sprigg family takes risk spreading seriously.
That's why Hayden Sprigg and his family opted to sow 1800ha of InterGrain's quick-maturing wheat Vixen this season as a key component of their 5500ha wheat program, north of Mukinbudin.
Recognised as WA's highest yielding wheat, based on long-term 2017-2021 WA National Variety Trail (NVT) data, Vixen also presents positive and diverse marketing options due to its dual Australian Hard Noodle and Australian Hard (AH) classifications.
With 2022 kicking off with decent opening rains and promising price expectations, the Spriggs increased their canola rotation planting to 1800ha, followed by 1000ha of InterGrain barley Spartacus CL, Maximus CL and Litmus, as well as 5500ha of wheat.
The balance was sown to oats for grazing and grain, plus vetch as a pasture legume.
"As wheat covers more than half our cropping program, we look for diversity when making our variety selection, particularly when it comes to maturity," Mr Sprigg said.
"Hence last year we bulked up a tonne of InterGrain's Vixen seed, which gave us 110 tonnes of seed back for this season after cleaning.
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"Sown at 22 kilograms per hectare on a 40ha block, it was our highest yielding variety, despite being frosted on the main stem."
Mr Sprigg is confident Vixen will meet all challenges this year across a range of soil types, including a reasonable area of heavy soils which favours such an AH variety.
"In this area, our seasons can be cut short, so one of our biggest challenges is getting varieties to finish before terminal drought hits," he said.
"The combination of positive Vixen yield reports from neighbours and reviewing NVT data means we could confidently sow Vixen as a quick maturing variety after our mid maturing lines.
"In the past, quicker maturing lines weren't yield competitive with main season varieties such as Scepter, but so far it's been a good move.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how Vixen performs this season in what's shaping up as a very different season to 2021."
The Sprigg's wheat program consists of 2000ha of InterGrain's Ninja sown at the start of May, 1800ha of Scepter sown in middle of May, followed by Vixen.
Additionally, 40ha of InterGrain's Rockstar wheat was sown as a bulk up block for possible use as an earlier sowing option in 2023.
According to InterGrain wheat breeder Dan Mullan, Vixen offers a true varietal opportunity within wheat programs to help spread flowering windows during critical spring stress periods, which commonly occur in the north eastern Wheatbelt.
"Vixen has continued its streak as a stellar performer, as the highest yielding wheat on average based on long-term 2017-21 WA NVT data, highlighting Vixen's capacity to perform across a range of seasons," Dr Mullan said.
Vixen has very good tillering and biomass growth capacity, a trait absent in many previous quick maturing wheat varieties.
It also has strong physical grain characteristics, with a strong protein accumulation capacity relative to yield potential and a good grain size and hectolitre weight.
Vixen is available through WA Seedclub Members and is a farmer-to-farmer trade approved variety.
