ISTABRAQ IDEALLY SUITED TO LATE SOWING SLOT

Ensuring maximum return from later drilled wheats relies on careful variety selection and attention to agronomy, says Nickerson’s Bill Angus.

“We are now moving into a later drilled situation, and generally wheats sown at the end of October into early November suffer with lower specific weights. This is because they tend to have a later ear emergence and the ear doesn’t fill as well in the spring.

“So varieties on the border of good specific weight may lose a couple of points when drilled later and then face a docked price.”

One variety that is suited to this later slot is Istabraq, says Mr Angus. “It already has a good specific weight at 78kg/hl and holds on well when drilled later.”

Istabraq has been a really consistent performer on farm and in trials. Yields are also very consistent over different regions, he adds.

Recommended List trials rate Istabraq at 106% when drilled before 5th October, and 110% when sown in November, illustrating its suitability in the later slot.

But growers must manage the variety correctly, advises Mr Angus: “We have a responsibility as breeders to advise on the growing of the varieties that we breed.

“At Nickerson’s we believe we are unique in providing growers with comprehensive husbandry guidelines and booklets that are freely downloadable from the internet. We strongly recommend growers to utilise this information as it is provided for their benefit.”

For further information contact: Frank Curtis on 01472 371471 or fcurtis@nickerson.co.uk or go to www.nickersonuk.com