Wheat variety choice for Scotland

Variety choice in Scotland has been a relatively easy decision over the last 15 years: Riband, followed by Riband followed by Riband! The choice has also been directed by the end use market – primarily distilling and biscuit milling but also a strong feed market.

Consort has replaced Riband on many farms, but there is now a wide range of varieties seeking to oust these ‘old favourites’.

What has changed to make growers re-examine their choices for harvest 2006?  Firstly the wheat price is low and does not look as though it will lift in the near future. Secondly and perhaps more worrying, is the reduction in efficacy of disease control by key fungicides.  The demise of the strobilurins has been well recorded - but there is also evidence of a reduction in the efficacy of triazoles to control Scotland’s most damaging disease Septoria tritici.

It is important for growers to take a close look at new and established varieties and weigh up the risks associated with each.

Nickerson are committed to evaluating varieties for Scottish conditions and all the wheats considered below, as well as competitor varieties, can be seen by growers on the Open Day at Nickerson’s Bridge of Earn trials site on Thursday 21st July (see panel at end for full information).

There has been some interest in growing Group 1/2 breadmaking wheats in Scotland as new varieties have shown promise. However, the variability of the Scottish weather makes this a risky venture and growing Group 1 varieties is an inadvisable route for those without contracts in their hands.

In the Group 2 sector Einstein has performed well in various situations and has the flexibility of a wide range of rotational slots – particularly the ‘irksome’ second wheat position.

Scottish growers should really be focussing on the Group 3 Biscuit/ Distilling wheats.  Riband now looks dated. Whilst still producing high yields it comes at a cost – the same can also be said of Consort.

Claire, however, is a consistent performer and is considered by many to be the ‘ideal biscuit wheat’. If selling into this market Claire must be an option. It also has the benefit of good Septoria tritici resistance, though mildew can be a problem if left unattended. 

Nijinsky is a derivative of Claire x Consort and has many of the attributes of Claire but with stiffer straw. It is well suited to early drilling and with good disease resistance, plus a range of end-use markets, it should be considered as an alternative or partner to Robigus.

Group 4 Soft varieties have a place for Scottish growers. Istabraq has produced some exceptional yields over the UK. It has soft milling grain with good specific weights. Distilling results to date look very promising, with results similar to Riband. Istabraq has no major disease threats and a versatile range of rotational opportunities. Straw strength is only moderate but the variety is very responsive to growth regulators. 

There is relatively little interest in the Group 4 Hard wheats in Scotland and there seem to be little incentive to follow this route.

Nickerson are aware of the challenges Scottish growers are facing and have introduced some very promising new varieties into the market this year:

Alchemy has received a lot of attention following outstanding performance in trials. With an excellent disease profile, good standing power and good distilling results to date this variety could have a very significant future in Scotland. Dough extensibility is rather weak which would preclude its inclusion in the biscuit grist - so it is a distilling or feed variety only. 

Hyperion is a soft milling feed variety with stiff straw and good specific weights. Hyperion can address one of the major diseases in Scotland – Eyespot – which because of the climate and drilling dates used is endemic in Scotland. This is because the variety has exceptional resistance to Eyespot (derived from Aegilops ventricosa), and thus gives growers the opportunity to take this spray out of their growing regime.

For the longer term, Nickerson’s commitment to producing varieties for the Scottish market means coded lines are already under evaluation in company trials and in the national testing system.

Growers are invited to the 2005 open day at the Nickerson trials to gain an insight into variety choice in Scotland.  All the varieties discussed above can be seen, and a feature of the trials is that all varieties are grown with and without a full fungicide programme in order to exhibit the degree of ‘risk’ associated with each one.

There will be guided tours of the trials site at Fingask farm, Rhynd (courtesy of Andy Stirrat) at 4.00pm and 6.00pm on Thursday 21st July. For an invitation farmers should call free-phone number 0800 581847.

For further information contact: Frank Curtis or Bill Angus on 01472 371471 or fcurtis@nickerson.co.uk / wjangus@nickerson.co.uk