Seeds Focus: What growers need to assess before drilling in the east
Low grain prices are set to make the choice of varieties to drill this autumn even more important for growers, and with this in mind we look at views from the seed trade on what to grow in the east of England in part one of this daily four-part series.
High yields and the marketing flexibility of newer wheat, barley and oilseed rape varieties are likely to be an attraction for growers – although wheat farmers are likely to give an extra look at yellow rust resistance scores.
© Tim Scrivener
On wheat, Will Miller, seeds and traits manager at advisory group ProCam, says there is no longer any need to stick with feed wheats if yield is the aim, as there are high-yielding Group 1 and Group 2 milling varieties.
See also: the introduction to the series:Weed and pest worries dominate winter cropping choices
and Part 2: New quality wheats benefit southern growers
“The highest-yielding wheat variety in the east region on this year’s Recommended List is Siskin, which is a Group 2. So if you want to grow a barn-filler, there is now the opportunity to grow one that the markets are likely to buy,” he says.
Siskin is one of only two varieties – the other being Graham – on the Recommended List with a 7 rating for septoria, as well as good results as first and second wheats and on heavy or light land.
Chris Guest, seed manager at grain trader Gleadell, agrees. “Siskin is one of three new wheat varieties that are likely to do well. There is a great deal of interest in it, although it would be wrong to suggest that it will get the protein needed for full milling specification.”
However, he stresses that there is still a feed market, and that growers will continue with the likes of Santiago, Evolution and Diego.
“There are two new feed wheats that will also be of interest – Graham and Crispin – for very different reasons. They are both high yielding, at 104%, but are suitable for different drilling dates,” adds Mr Guest.
See also: Three wheat varieties to grow for a brighter future
Graham has done well in the west, but its earliness and strong disease resistance make it a strong contender for the east, while Crispin suits a late-drilling slot. However, neither Graham nor Crispin has much seed availability, he warns.
Winter barley
Two-row conventional barleys are important for their good grain quality, but hybrid barley outshines it in every other way, summarises Will Miller.
“In the east, its blackgrass suppression is the talking point. It has the ability to reduce blackgrass tillering and seed return, compared with wheat and conventional barley,” he says.
“So if you are looking for another feed wheat, think about Costello. This is the first year of proper seed availability and it has the same grain quality advantages as its stablemate, Diego,” he says.
Milling wheats
For the true milling wheat grower, there are three Group 1 varieties with different agronomic strengths, all delivering yields within 6% of the top of the AHDB Recommended List, says Mr Miller.
Skyfall will be popular as it has done very well and there is experience with it now, and it is still the only milling wheat with orange wheat blossom midge resistance.
Another RAGT variety, Illustrious, looks promising as there are a number of millers who have shown interest and it has strong disease resistance. In contrast to Skyfall, it is suited to the heavier land and the second wheat position, says Mr Miller.
Trinity is the highest-yielding Group 1 wheat in the east, and although it hasn’t been as popular as Skyfall, it has the best Hagberg and sprouting resistances of any Group 1 wheat.
Replacing Reflection?
The high-yielding feed wheat Reflection has shown high levels of yellow rust this season, so Sarah Holdgate, cereal pathologist at crop consultants Niab, advises that the yellow rust ratings of new varieties should be taken as a guide and the variety monitored.
AHDB’s cereals specialist Simon Oxley says that there has been a valuable lesson to come from Reflection, in that both parents must have good resistance to be sure of the offspring’s rating.
“The question being asked by Reflection growers is what feed wheat to grow next. There are options, such as Graham, Costello, Relay and Dickens, as well as some of the varieties that they may have moved on from, such as Diego and Evolution,” he says.
New biscuit-making Group 3 choices that have the yield and quality combination include Barrel and Basset, with the latter having the better septoria resistance, which will probably give it the edge.
Monitor farmers’ views
In Suffolk, AHDB monitor farmer Brian Barker has made his decisions on wheat varieties, based on the Stowmarket farm’s proximity to the export ports.
As a result, Siskin, Barrel, Basset, Zulu and Revelation are on his list, and he adds that good tillering and disease resistance are essential, while OWBM resistance is a bonus
In Essex, Tom Bradshaw is considering low-grade milling varieties and will make his final decision on the harvest performance of Skyfall, Lili, Siskin and Illustrious.
He is increasing his area of hybrid winter barley, with plans for both Bazooka and Volume, but will not be planting any oilseed rape unless he can use neonicotinoid seed treatments.
In Norfolk, new monitor farmer Simon Brock has plenty of local feed markets to supply and looks for good septoria resistance and standing ability, as well as high yields and good specific weight. “That’s why Evolution, Graham and Revelation are top of my list,” he says.
In oilseed rape, he wants good disease resistance and high yields, and has a preference for pod-shatter resistance.
“Extrovert and Exalte are my two picks, especially as we need good autumn vigour to deal with slug, partridge and flea beetle attack,” he adds.
Oilseed rape
The vast number of oilseed rape varieties being marketed can be completely overwhelming, believes agronomist Jock Willmott of Strutt & Parker.
“In the field, we want the plant stand offered by conventional varieties and the spring vigour of a hybrid. Good disease resistance is needed too,” he says.
For Will Miller, this may mean looking outside the east/west region Recommended List. The stand-out disease resistances of varieties such as hybrid Exalte and conventional Barbados can’t be ignored. He also highlights hybrid Windozz and conventional Elgar.
“There is not much to add on these. They are two varieties with strong agronomics to go with their high yield potential. Windozz also has good autumn and spring vigour,” he says.
© Tim Scrivener
With disease resistance in mind, Mr Guest advises growers to spread their risks by growing one variety per 40ha. He picks out conventional Campus and hybrid Incentive as proven choices, while candidates Aquila and Dariot have caught his eye with good disease resistance and high oil content.
