A NEW psyllid-resistant variety of leucaena is growing exceptionally well in central Queensland, with Bandana Station one of two licensed growers in Queensland.
Bandana’s Nathan Evans said the psyllid-resistant variety, Redlands, has grown to between eight and ten foot in height since it was planted early last November.
Bandana got the licence to grow the variety, and started with just 10kg of seed – allowing them to plant about four hectares for their first crop on the 17,000 hectare station.
Nathan said with any luck, the crop, which is beginning to flower now, will produce enough seed for the station to then on-sell to producers.
“We have had a lot of interest, a lot of people have called up and asked about the new variety and when they might be able to get some seed,” Nathan said.
Nathan said the new variety will be especially valuable for cattle producers closer to the coast and further north, where psyllid is a more prevalent problem.
“It’s going to be very good for those places that haven’t been able to grow leucaena yet, it’s going to be a game changer without a shadow of a doubt,” he said.
“(Psyllid) is an insect that can cause leucaena a lot of problems because it comes along and eats those new shoots, so basically the cattle aren’t getting any value out of the leaf.
“This stuff is looking to be very promising.”
Nathan said they started small with the four hectares currently planted, but he hoped to expand as they get more seed to plant about 30 hectares on the property.
“We’re hoping to produce about 10 to 12 tonne a year, that would be fantastic,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll have some seed available in three or four months, it won’t be a lot, but hopefully another 18 months after that we should have a substantial amount available for sale.
“Australian buyers have the first preference.”
Nathan said a trial currently being undertaken by the MLA is showing cattle definitely eat the new variety, and he said data on how they do on it will be the deciding factor for most producers.
“Obviously that scientific evidence is very important to everybody because that’s what they want to know,” he said.
