The problem, according to variety consultant, Mike Jeffes, is that nobody has produced any hard and fast trials data on early drilling since the 1980s.
“Growers simply have to go on past experience and, in the absence of any empirical data, try and predict what sort of varietal characteristics best suit their soil and site location,” he says.
“While growers have learned the hard way, gaining first hand experience with varieties such as Claire, we are still learning with types such as Alchemy and Humber,” he suggests.
For this reason, Mr Jeffes backs HGCA proposals to undertake a series of early drilling trials next season. “While these may provide difficult to interpret result in the early years, we have a real need for this sort of data to supplement the UK Recommended List,” he says.
This season, Mike Jeffes suggests that growers sit down with their agronomists and undertake a paper exercise to assess varieties that tick the most number of key-character boxes they feel are important.
“Clearly the earlier you drill, the greater the opportunity for growth and the taller the straw; so straw strength is critical,” he points out. “Looking at the physics of lodging, the greater the growth the more leverage there is on the plant.
“In addition, the earlier you drill, the greater the risk of the growing point appearing out of the mass of tillers produced and being damaged by late frosts, so select a variety with slow spring development.”
From the disease point of view, Mr Jeffes reckons growers should be able to cope with most pathogens in an early drilled crop with the exception of eyespot. “Select a variety with good eyespot scores, or Pch-1 resistance and you’ll significantly reduce lodging risks in the early season slot,” he says.
When it comes to drilling, seed rate selection is also important. Reduced rates are needed to account for the longer tillering period to come. And, in this respect, the selection of a variety with a high specific weight could help. “If you achieve too high an ear count, then at least you stand a chance of achieving a half decent sample at harvest,” he points out.
Mr Jeffes is heartened by the potential current crop of varieties coming through the RL trials system. “Bantam, Grafton, and perhaps Cassius could well find a niche in the early drilling slot, so it is important they are tested in HGCA trials.
“Growers with more wheat to drill need an earlier start and so are taking greater risks. It is pleasing that plant breeders and the testing authorities are taking note.”
