Home Field Crops Winter Crop Varieties Farah

Farah

Faba Beans

  • 2% higher yielding than Fiesta in South Australia
  • Improved Ascochyta resistance for both leaf and pod than Fiesta
  • Reduced grain staining from Ascochyta at harvest
  • A more versatile, marketable product to end users
  • Well suited and planted extensively across southern NSW, Victoria and South Australia

Farah is now a widely grown variety in the southern areas of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Farah is a direct Arabic translation for Fiesta and has now replaced this popular variety in all faba bean growing areas including southern NSW, Victoria and South Australia. It is a direct selection from Fiesta VF with reduced susceptibility to Ascochyta and seed staining. Yields have averaged 2% higher than Fiesta VF in statewide SAFCEP trials over recent years, with similar advantages in all districts and rainfall zones. In developing this Ascochyta resistant selection of Fiesta, a population breeding method was used with a relatively large genetic base. This ensured that the overall characteristics of Fiesta such as yield, seed size, colour, botrytis reaction, time of flowering and maturity were retained.

During the selection process there have been improvements in seed colour, particularly with less environmental staining and also a more uniform seed size.

 

Pest Resistance

Consult your preferred agronomist / advisor for up to date advice on Farah’s pest resistance and associated management decisions.

 

Variety Management / Agronomy

Farah is recommended as a replacement for both Fiesta VF and Fiord in southern faba bean production areas. A variety specific best management practice (VSMP) has been developed specifically for Farah and can be obtained on the Pulse Australia website. The use of best management practices are encouraged.

 

Disease Resistance/Tolerance

Farah may be slightly more tolerant of metribuzin PSPE than Fiesta (testing continues). For other chemistry, Farah is similar to Fiesta, ie: more susceptible to Simazine than Fiord, susceptible to post-emergent Simazine and more tolerant of Spinnaker than Fiord. Farah is moderately resistant/resistant to Ascochyta, slightly less than Ascot. It is susceptible to Chocolate Spot, Rust and Cercospora, similar to Fiesta.

 

Disease Management

  • Place less emphasis on Ascochyta with Farah, without ignoring the risk, and concentrate more on Chocolate Spot control
  • No fungicide seed dressing for Ascochyta is needed
  • No foliar fungicide for Ascochyta control at 6-8 weeks postsowing
  • unless there is a severe Ascochyta risk. Cercospora may however need controlling
  • At early flowering, concentrate on foliar Chocolate Spot control
  • At late flowering-pod fill, concentrate on Chocolate Spot control and Rust protection where required. Ascochyta protection is only needed in high risk situations

 

Sowing Rate

Seeding rates for faba beans vary according to seed size and sowing time. Faba beans can yield well over a wide range of plant populations under favourable conditions. Trials conducted in northern and southern NSW under dryland conditions show that higher plant populations have a yield advantage. Later sown crops require a higher plant population to minimise potential yield loss. Typically – target established plant populations are as follows:

  • Southern NSW, VIC, SA (Dryland) 25 - 35 plants/m2
  • Southern NSW, VIC, SA (Dryland) 20 - 30 plants/m2
  • Farah usually offers an average 100 seed weight of 60 grams (ranges from 50 – 75).

 

To achieve an established plant population of 25 plants/m2 – utilising an establishment percentage of 90% (which is reasonable unless sowing in adverse conditions) with high germination % - a sowing rate of approximately 180 to 190 kg / ha may be considered typical. A formula can be initiated to calculate sowing rates – taking into account target plant density, germination percentage, seed size and establishment rates.

 

Example

1000 seed weight in grams = 60

Target plant population / sq metre = 25

Establishment % = 90

Germination % = 90

Sowing Rate  = (60 x 25 x 1000 / (0.9 x 0.9)) / 10,000

= (60 x 25 x 1000 / 0.81) / 10,000

Sowing Rate = 185 kg/ha

 

 

Faba Beans

Faba beans are a species of flowering plant in the vetch and pea family Fabaceae. It is not a true bean. Traditionally Faba  beans were been grown in the southern grains region of Australia however, this area has now expanded due to the recent release of varieties adapted to the northern grain region.

Faba beans are a species of flowering plant in the vetch and pea family Fabaceae. It is not a true bean. Traditionally Faba  beans were been grown in the southern grains region of Australia however, this area has now expanded due to the recent release of varieties adapted to the...

Faba beans are a species of flowering plant in the vetch and pea family Fabaceae. It is not a true bean. Traditionally Faba  beans were been grown in the southern grains region of Australia however, this area has now expanded due to the recent release of varieties adapted to the northern grain region.