Pipeline Prospects

In the pipeline are wheats which introduce better quality characteristics into higher yielding UK wheats. According to KWS UK wheat breeder, Mark Dodds, this has also come as a result of improved selection techniques.

“With high Group 4 yields already on offer from Oakley and Humber, the ultimate aim of our programme now is to produce high yielding milling wheats that are short stiff and farmer friendly.

“First step along this road is combining parents with the right characteristics to provide protein, specific weight and robust, high Hagbergs,” says Mark.

In this respect KWS UK has a range of pipeline crosses with varieties such as Cordiale, Quest and Wizard and other known coded types that have good quality with those that have robust agronomic characteristics.

This year, for example, KWS has four potential Group 2s and one potential Group 1 white wheat, in second year National List trials. A year or so behind are a number of other traditional Group 1s. “Time will tell if they have the characteristics to meet industry’s needs.”