High yielding group 2 variety leading the way for milling wheats

The new generation of nabim Group 2 milling wheats is making growers and millers sit up and take notice because of the benefits which they offer to both parties.

Growers are beginning to take a greater interest in the new varieties because they offer significant improvements in yield potential, delivering tonnages more closely associated with barn-filling feed types, whilst also providing access to a range of end-use markets. The new Group 2s are also catching the eye of UK millers, who are attracted by their consistent bread-making qualities.

Leading the new Group 2s is Panorama, from Nickerson, which combines the attributes of two proven UK bread-making varieties, Solstice and Xi19, while its specific weight and Hagberg Falling Number is similar to Group 2 stalwart Einstein.

George Mason, Senior Executive of Northamptonshire-based Heygates, Britains biggest independent millers, says that when it comes to wheat varieties growers preferences have always been influenced largely by yield, so quality premiums have to support the yield penalty and added cost of growing bread-making types. He states:

Yield and quality are what its all about and several of the new Group 2 varieties are leading the way for milling wheats. Heygates first got to look at Panorama two years ago, prior to the variety joining the Recommended List in 2009, but this year will be the first time that we will be able to take significant commercial volumes.

In general, Group 2 consists of a mixed-bag of varieties, but they all have their own specific characteristics. For Panorama, the performance of its flour and protein really stand out. We have found that its flour and colour are consistent in bread baking tests, performing well against other varieties in Group 1 and Group 2. Its the best in its Group for bread-making and therefore we place it as one of the top varieties in its category. Its still early days in terms of its market share, but looking at Panoramas performance in our tests the future looks bright.

Edward Benton, Farm Manager at Conisholme Farms at Skidbrooke near Louth in Lincolnshire, says that growing Nickersons Group 2 Panorama gives the business increased flexibility for its crop marketing. Having grown the variety for the first time last season, he says that because of its high-yield Panorama can just as easily be marketed as a barn filler should a milling premium not be achieved.

Conisholme Farms encompass more than 800 hectares, with wheat, barley and oilseed rape taking the lions share of the rotation, supplemented by 60ha of vining peas. All are first wheats, the main varieties grown including Zebedee, Nijinsky, Panorama and Cassius, the latter two grown on the farm for seed last season.

Were not growing any Group 1 wheats at the moment as we got a little fed-up with quality knock-backs, says Mr Benton. In addition to potential Group 2 milling premiums our proximity to Immingham Docks means that we have the opportunity to supply barn-filling wheats for ethanol production and export. However, if we can get the quality milling premium then we will.

Grown on predominantly heavy clays, Panorama yielded 10.8 tonnes per hectare in its first season, exactly matching the farms long-term average wheat yield. According to Mr Benton, out of last years seed crops, Cassius looked the better of the two during the early part of the season but when it came to harvest Panorama had good ears and plump, clean grain, together with a very good specific weight of 78kg/hl.

There was certainly no argument when it came to its yield, says Mr Benton of Panorama. With its high resistance to lodging, Panorama stands very well on the farms heaviest land, which is part-treated with turkey manure earlier in the season, received a normal fungicide regime and remained very clean of disease.

Because of its good all-round disease resistance, which includes a rating of 9 for yellow rust, Im tempted by the thought of cutting down fungicide use on Panorama next season, but that would probably be a risky strategy for any variety, says Mr Benton. This season Panorama came out of the cold winter in good shape and got away with the rest of the varieties when the weather warmed up.

Well be increasing the area of Panorama from the 25ha we grew for the 2010 harvest to over 80 hectares this autumn, but are considering dropping some barley from the rotation and also trying Panorama in the second-wheat slot, for which it will also be highly suited.

We do tend to get good yields around here, with sea frets rolling in to provide crops with a little bit of late season moisture. However, if last years crop is anything to go by well get more of the same yield and quality from Panorama.

Nickerson is the international name for the arable crops business of Limagrain Verneuil Holding, a subsidiary of Group Limagrain, the largest plant breeding and seed development company in the E.U.

The Nickerson brand operates principally in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain, and Nickerson varieties are available through the company’s international agents in many other countries around the world, from Scandinavia to Australia.

Best known for its cereal varieties, Nickerson is also active and successful in the breeding and introduction of other crop species, including oilseed rape, linseed, peas, field beans and sugar beet. In addition, forage and amenity grasses, maize, fodder crops and game cover mixture are bred.

Further information is available at www.nickersonseeds.co.uk

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