General News
9 November, 2026
Grain trials put varieties to the test
Crop trials in the Wimmera Mallee give farmers independant information about different grain varieties. This helps them choose and manage their crops more effectively.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) runs the National Variety Trials (NVT) program, which tests how grain varieties perform in different environments, including Hopetoun.
Birchip Cropping Group (BCG) manages the Mallee component of the program, conducting trials that add to a national database on grain yield, quality, and disease resistance.
Google Trends data indicates that Australian search interest in GRDC and BCG topics has varied over the past five years, with intermittent peaks rather than steady growth.
GRDC recorded higher average relative search interest than BCG, though the data does not specify whether searches related to crop trials or specific agricultural developments.
The NVT program provides growers and agricultural advisers with independent data to help compare grain varieties and make informed decisions suited to local growing conditions.
The program's database provides trial results and multi-year comparisons of grain yield, quality and disease resistance, helping growers select varieties suited to local conditions.
The NVT program compares grain varieties in field trials to assess their performance under different growing conditions.
Trials follow locally appropriate farming practices, including sowing times, fertiliser applications and weed and disease management, to provide reliable comparisons between varieties.
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