Introducing Reilly and Kingston: BASF’s new Australian wheat varieties for the 2023 season

• BASF and commercial partner Seednet have released two new wheat varieties, Reilly and Kingston, named after local farming pioneers
• Kingston brings high-end yield potential and grain quality, outstanding lodging resistance and exceptional straw strength
• Reilly introduces brand new genetics to Australian growers, offers excellent grain quality and strong resistance to all the major pathotypes of stripe rust

Melbourne, Australia – October 14, 2022 – Following the successful launch of BASF’s first Australian wheat seed variety 'Ascot^®' in 2020, BASF and its commercial partner Seednet have released two new wheat varieties – Kingston^® and Reilly^® - for the 2023 season.

"BASF and Seednet are excited to introduce another two new wheat varieties to the Australian market, which will offer growers even more choice that will help them achieve better yields," said Gavin Heard, Head of Seeds and Traits, BASF Australia and New Zealand.

"Introducing new genetics into the market is critical as we grapple with climate changes and nations seeking to improve their food security. We at BASF, have focused on innovations to support the needs for more sustainable agriculture and assist farmers to do the biggest job on earth to feed us and the growing demands of wheat. The new genetics in Reilly will provide growers from the Eyre Peninsula, right through the mid-north of South Australia and into the Wimmera and Mallee, a great opportunity to more effectively manage rust with a high yielding variety. In higher rainfall zones, Kingston will provide a robust, short stature, high yielding variety," Heard added.

Following the same naming convention as Ascot, BASF and Seednet chose to honour local farming pioneers in naming the new varieties.

"Like Ascot, Kingston in central Victoria was the site of a flour mill built by gold miner turned pioneering wheat grower, breeder and miller James Fry, who was one of the pioneering wheat growers in the Wimmera,” explains Simon Crane, General Manager, Seednet.

Kingston wheat has high-end yield potential and grain quality, exceptional straw strength, outstanding lodging resistance, and the plant type results in low residues to manage the following year. In addition, Kingston has an AH classification (Southern zone) and is suited to medium and higher-rainfall zones and irrigation.

“Reilly was named after Richard Reilly, who arrived in the tough environment of Corack, when farming in the northern Wimmera was just beginning. Like the variety named after him, Richard Reilly showed commitment to not only surviving, but thriving, in these conditions and 150 years later, the latest Richard Reilly and his family are still farming at Corack (and beyond) as testament to the resilience of the Reilly clan.”

Reilly wheat will bring about the advantages of brand-new genetics to Australian growers, and offers excellent grain quality and exceptional resistance to all the major pathotypes of stripe rust. Reilly is AH classified (Southern zone) and has the capacity to thrive in low to medium rainfall environments.

Kingston and Reilly wheat seed will be available to growers for the 2023 winter cropping season. For more information on these varieties and BASF’s Crop Solutions portfolio, visit www.crop-solutions.basf.com.au.

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

About BASF in Australia and New Zealand

BASF serves key industries in the agriculture, coatings, manufacturing and mining sectors, and posted sales of about €415 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2021. As of the end of 2021, the company had 380 employees and operated 6 production sites across Agricultural Solutions, performance products and functional materials and solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for 100 years, and about 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on www.basf.com/au.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.