Giving growers more 'Flower Power'

• New tool to help grain growers reduce risk of frost and heat stress

A powerful new online tool has been designed for grain growers to improve profits by better managing frost and heat stress risks for their crops.

The impact of frost and heat stress at flowering can prove costly and is an area over which many grain growers have traditionally had little control.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said 'Flower Power' would give growers greater control to minimise these climatic risks for the first time.

"'Flower Power' allows growers to compare flowering date predictions relative to long-term average frost and high temperature events, and assess the likelihood of optimum conditions during grain development," Mr Redman said.

The tool was developed by the Department of Agriculture and Food with support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

"The choice of when to sow and selecting the appropriate variety is the key to optimising yield potential and therefore gives growers a better chance at increasing profits," the Minister said.

"Growers now have a planning tool that can be used before seeding to understand when a crop may flower relative to cold and heat stress periods, and importantly make better judgements on the planting date."
 

      Fact File

• During the past 10 years grain growers have faced significant challenges from a range of climate and weather events, particularly frost damage
• 'Flower Power' will give growers more control over minimising climatic risks to wheat crops through planning for flowering when temperature stresses are lowest

Minister's office - 6552 6700