The arrival of Bamford, Elsom’s new soft Group 3 wheat, is being seen as a significant development for a market sector which has been on a stark decline since 2020.

Having fallen from almost 10.8% of the certified seed market to just 1.6% in the space of four years, the Group 3 biscuit wheat category took a pounding as new variety introductions either failed to excite or succumbed to disease.

That situation is all about to change, believe commentators, who expect newcomer Bamford to have wider appeal than traditional biscuit wheat markets – given its combination of very high yields, strong agronomics and good grain quality. 

See also: Advice on getting the most from Dawsum winter wheat

It is also suitable for export, having achieved a UKS classification, and has been rated medium for distilling – giving market flexibility and extending its geographic reach into Scotland.

Added to the AHDB Recommended List for 2024/25, Bamford has a UK treated yield of 106%.

Not only does that put it head and shoulders above other Group 3 varieties, it also makes it one of just three winter wheat varieties on the list at that level of output.

Market flexibility

As a result, it will also be grown for feed, predicts the seed trade, who highlight Bamford’s untreated yield of 92%, just 1% behind Extase, as another sign of the variety’s relevance to today’s more sustainable farming systems.

“Bamford’s recommendation is good news,” says Jim Knightbraid, seed business development manager at Frontier Agriculture.

“It comes on to the list in a market sector which has really suffered recently, but it also opens up opportunities beyond Group 3. It’s a variety that suits the mood.”

Bamford has performed well in the last two years of Frontier trials, he confirms.

“Last year, in a high pressure season for disease, it was the highest yielding variety in our untreated trials, giving 10.27t/ha. That was 113% of the trial average.”

He notes that there’s enough seed availability for Bamford to take 7-8% market share in its first commercial year.

“Early seed sales have been strong. The variety will also impact feed wheats and Group 2 thanks to its higher yield, just as much as it will revitalise Group 3.”

© Elsoms

Agronomic profile

The two previous Group 3 variety stumbling blocks – low yields and septoria resistance – have been addressed.

Bamford is not a Cougar cross and brings in some genetic diversity, so there are no concerns about the durability of its septoria resistance.

A septoria rating of 6.7 is good, rather than outstanding, while it has a 7 for yellow rust and 6s for mildew, brown rust and eyespot.

It scores 7s for resistance to lodging – both with and without plant growth regulators – with no impact of lodging seen last year.

Given the increased frequency of extreme weather events, there’s no room for complacency with any variety, and plant growth regulators should be used.

The only thing missing from Bamford is orange wheat blossom midge resistance, continues Jim.

“That might have a bearing on the wider rotation if you’re growing other varieties, such as Dawsum and Extase, which are also without it.”

Growth habit

Fairly slow to grow in the autumn, Bamford “kicks on” in the spring and has an erect growth habit, Jim reports.

“It does have potential for September drilling. In challenging autumn planting conditions, where herbicide applications are a struggle, variety choice can help.

“Bamford has been reasonably competitive against grassweeds in our work. So it may have a place with growers wanting to avoid a repeat of last autumn’s wet conditions by drilling a bit earlier.”

David Huish of Dalton Seeds agrees that Bamford is a significant introduction to the Group 3 sector, but also predicts that it will find other markets.

“With such a high yield, it’s a no-brainer,” he says. “There’s no need to pigeonhole it as a biscuit wheat as it suits other outlets too.”

Good wheat varieties that yield well are always in demand and Bamford is right up there, alongside Beowulf and Champion on 106%, he points out.

“Soft wheats have declined in terms of market share, with the hard feeds dominating, but Bamford could change that picture. The fact that it is suitable for distilling means that it could also have a place in Scotland.”