Growers contemplating winter wheat varieties for sowing this autumn have plenty to choose from, but intended market, rotational position and disease pressures should all be considered before finalising plans.
For winter wheat it’s all about the ‘three new Bs’, Bamford, Blackstone and LG Beowulf, explains Jim Carswell, Agrii R&D manager for the north.
“The three varieties that stand out as being well-suited to Scotland are Bamford, a new Group 3, Blackstone, a soft Group 4, and LG Beowulf, a new hard Group 4. These have shown the attributes needed to deliver for growers both north and south of the River Forth,” Mr Carswell says.
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Soft wheat varieties dominate north of the Forth but as growers seek better disease resistance and higher yield potential, the appeal of Bamford, which is the highest yielding soft wheat, is expected to lead a move away from LG Skyscraper and Swallow. Bamford also performs well as a second wheat.
“Bamford has all-round appeal. It’s the highest yielding Group 3 in the north, has stiffer straw than Skyscraper, significantly better Septoria tritici resistance which will appeal to those wanting to drill from mid-September, has a high bushel weight of 78.5 kg/hl and has produced good spirit yields,” Mr Carswell says.
For growers on the east coast Bamford’s lack of orange wheat blossom midge resistance (OWBM) may limit its appeal. Instead, Blackstone might be a suitable alternative.
“Blackstone is another new variety to consider. It has higher yields than Skyscraper, has stiffer straw and overall better disease resistance but is later to mature,” he adds.
For growers south of the Forth where hard feed varieties are more popular, there is perhaps a greater choice from which to choose.
“SY Insitor has been a consistent performer and one we expect to remain popular. Its yellow rust resistance has held up well but maintain a close eye as it will need managing.”
The likes of KWS Dawsum, Typhoon and Champion will remain popular and are expected to retain interest among those who know how to manage their pitfalls.
“They all have their merits, but also their disadvantages. If you know how to look after them then they will continue to do what you need of them,” Mr Carswell says.
The new hard feed to note is LG Beowulf. “It looks a strong variety. In many ways, it’s similar to Bamford but with a hard endosperm. The seed situation is tight, so perhaps one for 2025,” he says.
The benefits of nutritional or bio-stimulant seed treatments are often overlooked, but trials have consistently demonstrated their value.
“Seed treatments are relatively inexpensive and offer excellent return on investment. For nutritional seed treatments, decisions should be based on broad spectrum soil analysis, but results need to be interpreted in relation to nutrient availability from the soil. Broad spectrum grain analysis is a great way of identifying gaps in the nutritional programme,” Mr Carswell says.
Nutrient coatings such as i-Man (manganese), Zax (zinc) or Fielder Copper (copper) should be considered where there is a history of deficiency or where typically high phosphate levels can interfere with their availability from soil.
Where speed of emergence and establishment are key, bio-stimulant seed treatments, such as Take Off ST or Vibrance Duo (fludioxonil + sedaxane) can help aid output.
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