KWS Sterling

While it normally takes 4-5 years for a breadmaker to find favour with the miller, KWS Sterling comes to the market with a buy-back already in place.

Early release of grain for testing by UK millers has helped ADM – the UK’s leading independent miller – to identify it as a Group 2 variety that is well suited to its needs.

And, as more fast-tracked grain becomes available from harvest 2010, KWS Sterling is well placed to attract wide industry attention.

At 102% of controls, KWS Sterling stands some 4% ahead of Cordiale and Einstein, and just ahead of Panorama in Official Trials.

No other breadmaker – Group 2 or Group 1 – beats it for yield and hence growers can capitalise on its barn-filling potential while securing a premium.

 

Group 2 Quality

KWS Sterling has all the quality characteristics needed in a top-performing nabim Group 2 milling variety.

Compared to its nearest Group 2 competitor, Panorama, it has a more robust Hagberg, is shorter strawed and earlier to ripen.

All of these characteristics will help give it an advantage, particularly in a difficult harvest, ensuring the best possible chance of getting the crop in the barn before any potential deterioration in grain quality.

As with any milling quality wheat, growers should give priority to KWS Sterling at harvest and store it separately in good condition.

Data source: HGCA Recommended List 2010/11 for Winter Wheat

	Protein (%)	HFN	SPW	Height (cm)	Ripening
KWS Sterling	11.4	278	76.5	81	0
Panorama	11.7	251	77.5	92	1

Variety Commentary From Nabim

“This variety achieved RL status in 2010, and joins Panorama as the highest yielding wheat in Group 2. During 3 years of trials this variety has shown some ariability in protein levels but baking quality is acceptable. Good agronomic management may be required to attract higher premiums.’’

 

Miller’s Comments

Mark Ringrose

Trading Manager ADM Milling:

“KWS Sterling has good milling and baking attributes that complement ADM’s wide ranging gristing requirements.”

“Our proactive commercial approach and technical expertise has enabled us to identify this promising variety at an earlier stage in development.”

"We have worked closely with KWS for a number of years, the success of Cordiale is a good example of this, and KWS Sterling could be as well.”

“Good agronomic management will be required to secure a full buyback premium, however a scale of fallbacks will be applied to enable wheat to be accepted down to our minimum intake specification.”

 

Securing Breadmaking Quality

Not surprisingly as a result of KWS Sterling’s very high yields, growers will need to utilise high nitrogen inputs and a well-timed fertiliser programme to ensure protein targets are secured.

Recommended List data shows that with increased yield from varieties such as KWS Sterling, you can expect protein dilution and it is important to address this to satisfy contract requirements.

So, compared with Einstein, for example, KWS Sterling is 4% higher yielding and would be expected to require an additional 40kg/ha of available nitrogen to meet similar milling contract needs.

 

Agronomics

Agronomically, KWS Sterling is stiff strawed and, at 81cm height, only Grafton is shorter and these characteristics will help speed of combining, further ensuring an easier harvest of a quality crop. However, KWS do advocate the use of a sound PGR programme on KWS Sterling.

KWS Sterling also has good disease resistance ratings including a 9 for yellow rust, but it will benefit from a full fungicide regime to ensure high yield potentials are maintained and grain quality protected.

Data source: HGCA Recommended List 2010/11 for Winter Wheat

KWS Sterling
Mildew	7
Yellow rust	9
Brown rust	7
S. tritici	5
S. nodorum	[6]
Eyespot	6
Fusarium	[6]

While it is undoubtedly the highest yielding Recommended List breadmaker in the first wheat slot, both KWS and Recommended List trials suggest it may also be suited to the second wheat slot.

So, for growers looking for very high yielding Group 2 premium wheat, that puts £s on their bottom line, KWS Sterling is the best breadmaker in the Recommended List pack.