Heygates introduces buy-back contracts for KWS Extase

George Mason, Heygates senior executive

One of Britain’s biggest flour millers is to offer buy-back contracts for the new Group 2 milling wheat, KWS Extase.

Announcing the contract, George Mason, Heygates senior executive, explained that the miller’s interest in the variety went beyond its grain quality.

“We see KWS Extase as a variety with a lot to offer the grower. It has the highest untreated yield of any variety which in a time of limited and sometimes restricted fungicide use has to be reassuring. Furthermore, its favourable disease profile will help to support efficient production and protect grower profitability,” says Mr Mason.

Beginning from harvest 2020, Mr Mason said growers could choose between a single year contract or one spanning several years.

“We hope that our interest in KWS Extase will bring some certainty to growers during these times of great uncertainty and enable growers to plan for the future with confidence.

“KWS Extase has produced good quality flour that complements other varieties and as such we are pleased to be able to offer a series of contract buy-backs that consider a range of protein levels from full specification (at 13% protein) through to culinary flour (at 11% protein). This will support its appeal across a range of soil types and farm situations,” he says.

With four flour mills across spanning the East Midlands and East Anglia – Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, Downham Market, Norfolk, Tring, Hertfordshire and Icklingham, Suffolk – the contracts will likely appeal to growers across central England and East Anglia.

Crop management will be at the discretion of the grower and unlike some buy-back arrangements there is no additional protocol to follow that prohibits the use of certain products.

The Buy Back Contract Premiums over feed wheat will be set on a minimum/maximum basis and will reflect distance to a Heygates flour mill and grain quality. Interest in the variety is expected to be high and therefore contracts will have to be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Will Compson, KWS cereals and sales manager, welcomed the news saying it further supports what is already a compelling variety proposition.

“Varieties such as KWS Extase with its exceptional untreated yield and unrivalled disease profile, don’t come along that often. It represents a unique offering in terms of Septoria resistance, earliness of maturity, grain quality and milling performance for the end-user.”

For further details please contact Heygates on 01604 830 381.