Sharing a cutting of Mulgara previewed on his South Kilkerran property while at the Yorke Peninsula Field Days, grower Lyall Shulz says he’s impressed.

"The latest round of SARDI-developed varieties offer more features to help us keep up with rising demand for export-quality oaten hay," he said.

"Mulgara certainly has held onto its colour well, which is what the market wants. During the tough part of the season, it didn’t show the same stress seen in the older varieties," he said.

SARDI plant breeder Dr Pamela Zwer, who runs the national oat breeding program, expects the new oaten hay varieties will broaden options for growers.

"Newly released Mulgara is a midseason variety that resists lodging compared to the Wintaroo, which is a real plus," Dr Zwer said.

"Mulgara also offers slightly better resistance to stem rust and some resistance to red leather leaf disease and bacterial blight.

"Recent release, Tungoo is a mid to late season variety, which offers the best combination of disease resistance. Tungoo is the only variety that can resist red-leather leaf disease, for situations where the disease is a big problem, as fungicides aren’t cost-effective. It is also resistant and tolerant to cereal cyst nematode and stem nematode."

Lyall, who chairs the Australian Fodder Industry Association, says the release of these new varieties is living proof that royalty collection introduced five years ago is benefiting both the breeding program and growers.

The royalties are collected by AEXCO, a not for profit organisation, when growers deliver hay for processing.

The body, which represents hay processors, also helps to set breeding priorities to achieve desired export quality hay, while meeting grower needs.