Council hosts mustard seed opportunity seminar

30 Jan 2014 9:38 AM -

Forbes Shire Council in conjunction with local agronomists will host a Mustard Seed production meeting on Wednesday February 12 to gauge interest from farmers in growing locally processed mustard. 

Held from 7pm at the Forbes Services Club, Councillor Graham Falconer will chair the meeting which will also feature presentations from Daryl Young, CEO Australian Agricultural Technologies as well as representatives from Australian Agricultural Crop Technologies.

“This evening will outline the development of a Regional Mustard Processing Plant and the opportunities available for local producers in the purchase, marketing and processing of mustard,” says Cr Falconer.

Mustard was first grown successfully in the Forbes area in the early 1980’s to fill a need for an English based condiment mustard company and it looks like new opportunities may prove successfully for local farmers once again.

“The release of varieties of Indian Mustard (Juncea Canola) in recent years, has allowed the seed to be grown with similar oil and meal qualities as normal Canola,” says Cr Falconer.

“Juncea has similar agronomic characteristic as Canola but will yield significantly better in low rainfall environments and performing better in dry and hotter years than Canola. Although Juncea Canola has been bred specifically to have similar characteristics to Canola, other varieties of Mustards have been bred to suit the condiment, industrial, health food, pharmaceutical and Bio-fumigation trade” he said.

With limited capacity for processing Mustard in Australia there is potential for the development of a mustard processing plant right here in Forbes, the establishment of which would be of great benefit to farmers and the community.

It is very important for farmers to have a reliable local market that can process and market the end products and there is a market in Australia if a regular supply is available.

“I hope as many farmers as possible can attend this meeting as this venture has the potential to provide an additional rotational crop particularly in the drier years and areas considered to marginal for Canola” concluded Mr. Falconer.