Breeder reports strong harvest performance despite challenging year
26th August 2022
Despite drought conditions towards the end of the growing season and an earlier harvest than in most years, yields have generally held up well across the country, says KWS UK country manager Will Compson.
“We had finished harvesting all our seed crops at Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, by August 10th which is a good 10 days earlier than normal,” he explains.
“Despite the challenging conditions later in the season, yields have been strong across most of the country with much of this down to the predominantly good seedbeds crops went into and the amount of sunlight they received throughout the year, particularly in June.
“Although yields have been pleasing, protein levels across the board have suffered as a result of the lack of rainfall in recent weeks combined with the potential cutbacks in nitrogen applied due to the high prices.”
The new Group 4 variety KWS Dawsum, added to the RL at the end of last year, has performed particularly well, he reports.
“KWS Dawsum has performed consistently throughout the UK, delivering 12t/ha plus yields together with specific weights around the 80kg/hl mark with many samples reaching as high as 85kg/hl.
“It’s solid performance against the backdrop of a difficult year allied to a good all-round agronomic specification contributing to an untreated yield of 92% on the RL, mean it’s going to be the most popular feed wheat for drilling this autumn.
“KWS Cranium has also achieved double-figure yields with many growers appreciating its yellow rust resistance, stiff straw and orange wheat blossom midge resistance.”
The most popular wheat outright for next season will be KWS Extase following another impressive year, Mr Compson says.
“KWS Extase’s combination of high treated and untreated yields combined with strong rust and septoria resistances and good grain quality is making it the top choice for all types of growers.
“Plus with full Group 1 milling specification contracts out there for Extase crops with 13% protein, it’s a variety increasingly popular with millers which adds another valuable source of income for growers.
“Our new RL Group 2 variety KWS Palladium has also made a promising start in its first year of commercial production with some yields approaching 14t/ha and good protein levels ensuring its popularity can only grow.”
On the barley front, KWS Tardis has lived up to its promise, with many crops on-farm delivering yields to match the best six row hybrids, he says.
“KWS Tardis now accounts for 30% of the winter barley market with its excellent grain quality, reliability and very good straw quality adding to its appeal alongside its high yield potential.
“We’ve seen yields of over 13t/ha in the East of the country for KWS Tardis, which is truly remarkable considering the year we have had.”
