After 25 years growing canola, last year Joe Mason planted 200 hectares of dual-purpose Cargill Victory 3001 canola after observing data from canola trials at Cowra.

“We’re impressed with the results, and we’ll be doing some more this year,” he said.

With 8000 Merino ewes, joined to Border Leicester rams, on the 3700-hectare property, Mr Mason, who farms with his brother, Sam, and father, Michael, said dual-purpose canola looked like filling a valuable role in the mixed farming enterprise.

“The sheep industry is very strong, the grain industry in terms of trade is decreasing. It’s just a way of trying to get some livestock grain out of your crop,” he said.

“Canola over a long period has been the most profitable to grow as a break crop to cereals, and if we can make it more profitable by using some of its dual-purpose potential then it could have an even better fit in a mixed farming operation like ours.”

Full story in The Land, March 11.