Vetch productions and use in Australian farming systems

Rade Matic, Stuart Nagel, Gregg Kirby
National Vetch Breeding Program, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)

Background
The National Vetch Breeding Program (NVBP) is based on conventional breeding methods to provide farmers in different areas with improved vetch varieties for production and end use. Vetch has been adopted by Australian farmers as a legume rotation crop where drought is the major environmental stress. Farmers perceive vetch as a reliable, versatile legume, which can be used to manage cereal diseases and grass weeds, improve soil fertility and contribute to increased yield and protein content in subsequent crops. Also, vetch hay as a crop in the farm rotation is one of the best methods to reduce herbicide resistance weeds and to avoid chemical contamination of paddocks.