Breadmaking prospect
Breadmaking prospect
for Scottish growers
SCOTLANDS arable farmers might, at last, have the opportunity of securing premiums offered by millers for bread-making wheat.
Malacca has produced very high yields in Scotland and offers an early harvest date to safeguard Hagbergs, says CPB Twyfords John Blackman.
"Scottish farmers havent been able to exploit the bread-making market in the past, but Malacca now offers them that possibility because of its very good Hagberg retention and good sprouting resistance."
"The other advantage for Scotland is it is early," says Huw Phillips, director of Scottish Agronomy. "Its significantly earlier than Riband."
Mr Phillips, who is working with CPB Twyford to establish the best sowing date and seed and nitrogen rates for Scottish conditions, reckons Malacca could be harvested up to a week earlier than Riband in Scotland.
But farmers will have to forget the high seed rates they are used to with Riband. Malacca produces much higher ear numbers than Riband and, if sown at the same rate, could struggle to achieve millers specific weight demands, he notes.
"Weve got used to high seed rates with Riband because it gives us comfort and security in terms of ground cover. But we will have to break that mindset if Scottish growers are going to make the most of varieties like this." *