Growers looking to make the most from their milling crops next season will have the opportunity to grow two new bread making varieties, Crusoe and Edgar, for Warburtons on an exclusive contract through Openfield.
Both varieties from Limagrain UK have demonstrated that their quality milling characteristics meet the high quality specifications required by Warburtons, and have been accepted onto the Warburtons list a year before recommendation.
“This is really exciting news for UK growers as it demonstrates the confidence that the market has in these milling varieties to deliver the quality premiums required for this very important contract,” said Limagrain marketing director Lee Robinson.
“As breeders we work closely with the supply chain to ensure that our varieties are assessed at the early stages to meet market specs, and this is an example of the success of this approach. In doing this, we also ensure that the agronomics of the variety are suitable to UK growers.
“For Warburtons it is re assuring to know that there are new varieties coming through such as Crusoe and Edgar to replace the older varieties such as Solstice and Hereward, with equally good milling specifications and yields that are consistent over a range of different seasons.”
Openfield’s group commercial director, Graham Lacey, emphasised that the new contract was based on 12.5 per cent protein.
“This is a key differentiator, and supports the message that this contract is about growing wheat that is both functional and a quality baking product, rather than simply providing standard specification milling wheat,” he said. “This is a real opportunity for growers for the coming season who want to achieve full milling premiums without too much hassle.
“Crusoe can actually be grown in a first or second wheat situation. It is a short, stiff strawed variety which is a key trait required by farmers who grow high quality milling wheats. In comparison to many milling wheats which tend to be slightly dirtier varieties, this variety has good all round disease resistance with a high rating of 7 for Septoria and 9 for both mildew and yellow rust.
“Edgar which is a German wheat, is slightly taller, but is atypical in terms of its straw stiffness and excellent all round disease resistance. Edgar has a 7 rating for Septoria, but also has a high eyespot rating making it a good choice for a second wheat situation.”
For more information visit: www.limagrain.co.uk / www.openfield.co.uk.
