New variety of wheat released

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32620, 31 May 1971, Page 3

New variety of wheat released

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, . Miy 30.

The Minister of Science and the Minister of Industries and Commerce has announced that the Wheat Research Committee had agreed to the release of Kopara wheat (1020.01), and that a small, quantity would be available for commercial sowing this year.

The Minister of Science (Mr Taiboys) said that this new wheat was originally bred at the Crop Research Division in 1958, and resulted from the crossing of a number of. varieties from New Zealand and overseas. After further selection over a number of years cooperative trials with the Department of Agriculture in 1966-67 showed that The variety had a considerably higher yield than Aotea. In congratulating the officers of the Crop Research Division responsible for breeding this variety, he added that further trials over the last four years had confirmed its superiority in yield, particularly in Canterbury, and that it was the equal of Aotea in baking quality. In announcing the price to be paid for the new wheat, the Minister said that its full place in the wheat and flour-

using industries could only be established on the basis of its, commercial acceptability. Although for the present it had certain deficiencies in milling quality as compared with Aotea, and it could present some problems because of the need for care in identifying it from Hilgendorf, he was confident that Kopara Wheat, and/or developments from it, would have a useful pdrt to play in meeting New Zealand’s wheat requirements

For the first season, while the wheat is being proved commercially, the Government considers it should be priced at a discount on Aotea, and a price of $.40 a bushel F.O.R. grower’s Station had been approved. ?■ This price will be subject to-review when the price of wheat for the 1973 harvest is being considered towards the end of this year.