July 31st 2009

NICKERSON WINTER WHEAT GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The three major factors which all winter wheat growers should consider carefully before deciding which varieties to sow this autumn, namely sowing dates, disease resistance and end-market opportunities, are highlighted in Nickerson’s new ‘Winter Wheat Guide to Varieties and Challenges’, copies of which will be mailed out to growers during July. 

Lee Robinson, Nickerson’s Arable Marketing Manager, states:  
“Choosing the right varieties of winter wheat to grow is perhaps the most important and difficult decision which any arable farmer has to make at the beginning of each season, not only for agronomic reasons but also because this crop usually accounts for the major proportion of their income. Making the wrong decisions can therefore be very costly and this year it will be particularly important to get it right.  

“Growers will instinctively want to drill earlier this autumn because of the difficult establishment conditions which they faced last year, making it vital to select varieties that are suitable for early sowing, because many are not. Disease threats are always a problem and 2010 is likely to bring increased risks, including a new race of yellow rust which puts question marks against a number of major varieties.  

“Additionally, interesting new markets will be opening up this year, such as the first large-scale domestic bio-fuel plant, and for the first time in many years the UK faces the possibility of being at import parity, without an exportable surplus. Winter wheat growers therefore need to know which varieties will provide them with the best chance of meeting the challenges and exploiting these opportunities. The Guide provides them with advice and guidance to help them do so.”



Limagrain UK Ltd, Rothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN7 6DT    Tel: 01472 371471