Frontier Announces Premium Contract For Viscount

The contract seeks a significant tonnage of the variety from this harvest from the major wheat growing regions.

It recognises the potential of the variety in a wide range of market outlets including bio-ethanol, biscuit, cakes and uks exports.

According to the company’s milling wheat trader, Nick Burchell, the market for soft wheats is tight, but end-use requirements are strong.

“With around 4-5% of the UK crop down to Viscount, we are keen to source and supply as much as possible to a range of homes,” he said.

KWS commercial director, Andrew Newby suggested that the £3/t premium on offer through Frontier would make Viscount one of the most profitable UK wheats.

“While UK RL yields suggest that Viscount is 2% behind Group 4 front runner Oakley, a £3t premium on a ten tonne crop at today’s values more than makes up any difference,” he pointed out.

Viscount has a lodging rating of 8 backed by a very strong disease resistance profile with very good S. tritici and S. nodorum resistance complemented by excellent scores for both rust diseases

This, combined with Orange Wheat Blossom Midge Resistance, mean that growers can make savings in terms of pest control from less passes through the crop.

And, with sufficient seed production in the ground to ensure an 18% UK market share – now backed by a premium contract – Viscount is expected to take a large chunk of next autumn’s wheat area.

Growers interested in the Frontier contract should contact their local Frontier farm trader for more details.