19 March 2004: Sustaining a flock of stud merinos over winter without a winter feed crop, is a very expensive proposition. No one knows this better than Errol Brumpton of "Well Gully Merino Stud", a 3030 hectare intensive wool and sheep meat property at Mitchell in Western Queensland.

With most of a year's rainfall occurring between December and February and little or no autumn or winter rain, capitalising on moisture as soon as possible is imperative.

"If we don't get oats in the ground in late February or early March, we don't get an oats crop, which costs us a fortune in feed," Errol said. "In years without a winter feed crop it costs us around $400,000 for fodder."

Having to plant oats in February is problematic for many oats varieties, which don't like hot soils. "We used to plant Bentland oats during the 70's, which could handle the hotter starts, but you can't get seed any more," Mr Brumpton said. The property grew its own oats seed, until a succession of drought years exhausted their planting seed supply. "Until Taipan, there weren't any oats available for hot soil temperatures." Taipan can handle soil temperatures up to 29 degrees Celsius.

Last season it was still hot at planting, with soil temperatures above 28 degrees. Too hot for most oats varieties. Mr Brumpton decided to plant Taipan, and to hedge his bets with the heat, drilled the seed deep. "The crop didn't look impressive early," he said. "But it handled the heat and made for a good crop."

At Well Gully they plant turnip and rape with the oats for fodder. "In marginal country like ours, over the long term, especially in less favourable years, Taipan is the only one that will hold on."

This season, Well Gully Merino Stud has received exceptional rainfall. In order to spread the risk in what can be a harsh environment, Mr Brumpton also plants forage sorghum for hay. "We plant Sugargraze and Taipan to have a bob each way," he said. "Before Taipan we planted just Sugargraze for hay."

Mr Brumpton said the Sugargraze has excellent sugar content and performs well in marginal country and tougher conditions compared to other varieties.

"We usually get our first rain in October or November, and plant it in our marginal country. Although, with the forage sorghum, we still need to give the stock supplements, such as molasses," he said.

Last year's Sugargraze yielded well at the property, with 170 5x4 round bales taken off 26 hectares. Excellent rain early this season has also produced a rare bonus for the Brumptons, with last season's Sugargraze regrowing from the stubble to produce another crop. "We're cutting it now, and it's a sight to behold. The leaves are big and broad, but the stems have grown back much thicker than the first crop." Mr Brumpton said in his country and climatic conditions, Sugargraze is the pick of forage sorghums.

He also encourages seed companies, such as Pacific Seeds to continue investing in the development of early season oats.