First eco winter wheat variety presentation in Fertőd

(Photo: Pixabay)

In 2020, ÖMKi started the eco small-plot wheat variety tests. The network was created thanks to an extraordinary and multi-stakeholder cooperation, in which Nébih, VSZT, seed distribution companies (Karintia Kft., Lajtamag Kft., RWA Magyarország Kft., Saatbau Linz Hungária Kft., Tradisco Seeds Kft.), as well as domestic agricultural research leading institutions, such as the Martonvásár Agricultural Research Center Institute of Agriculture, the Szeged Gabonakutató Nonprofit Kft., the Karcag and Debrecen research institutes of the University of Debrecen, as well as organic farmers (Csoroszlya Farm and Árpád Decsi) are participating.

The variety presentation in June began in the field

Here, Ákos Péntek, station manager – reporting on the experiences of the years during the transition – introduced the station and shared the most important information about the agrotechnics of the eco winter wheat experiment, one of the essential elements of which – based on the experience so far – is timely weeding. According to his report, 19 winter wheat varieties and 5 spelled wheat varieties, as well as ancient grain varieties, were included in the experiment. During the program, in addition to the presentation of their breeds, breed owners were also given the opportunity to share their experiences on which defining characteristics should be taken into account when choosing a breed during organic farming. After the field inspection, Gábor Várszegi, the director of Nébih MGEI, after presenting the EU directives that led to the formulation of the desire for Nébih to examine varieties suitable for organic farming in ecological conditions, informed those present about the experiences of the past 3 years and the future also about plans. Dr. Péter Mikó, chairman of the VSZT Organic Seed Working Group and head of the Cereal Breeding Department of the Agricultural Research Center of Martonvásár, presented the variety test network and the current situation of organic breeding. In the series of reports, he was followed by the leading researcher of the ÖMKi, Dr. Szira Fruzsina, who gave a presentation on the results of the experiments and the favorable properties of the ÖMKi ancient grain. The meaningful program was finally closed by the presentation of Stefánia Balogh, the seed certification engineer of Nébih MGEI, with the presentation of the organic seed database and the current data on organic seed production.

The variety test network was established for the sake of the success of organic farming

With its help, producers can obtain adequate information about the performance of varieties, which can be useful information in selecting the best performing varieties in their area. The field demonstration, which, according to the plans, will become a tradition at the Fertőd Breed Experiment Station over the next few years, also wanted to help with this.

Nébih