United Kingdom
August 24, 2022
RAGT’s new Group 4 variety RGT Bairstow is having a bumper season on farm, with growers fortunate enough to secure some seed last autumn reporting some very promising results.
Stephen Mason, who farms at JP Mason & Sons, East Farm, Langton, Malton, North Yorkshire, is one of the lucky ones. He decided to try 7ha of RGT Bairstow and ended up being very impressed this harvest.
“It was first wheat after rape, drilled in early October in wet conditions. The heavy ground had one pass with a Sumo Trio and was drilled with a Vaderstad Rapid.
“The crop emerged quickly and got away well, and it looked good through the season. Like all our wheats, it could have done with a bit more rain at times, but it coped.”
Stephen spent a bit more on fungicides this season, given the high wheat price. “We left out T0s, but spent a bit more on T1 and T2, increasing rates and using newer chemistry – Revystar at T1 and Univoq at T2.
“All our nitrogen was bought at the right money, more by luck than anything. We probably put little more on, but we thought it was worth pushing a bit. Proteins have held up well as a result.”
The trial block, together with lower-yielding field headlands drilled with another variety, averaged 12.1t/ha, making it one of the highest yielding pieces of wheat on the farm this season.
“It was a very good result, especially as the field was cut at 11-12% moisture,” says Stephen. Had the headlands been RGT Bairstow as well, the field might have averaged a bit more, he adds.
Quality held up too - a specific weight of 80kg/hl and decent Hagberg and protein levels mean the variety should attract a low-grade milling premium.
“We’re very pleased with how the Bairstow turned out. We’ll definitely be ordering more for next season.”
RGT Bairstow key points
Group 4 newcomer RGT Bairstow is one of the UK’s most consistent varieties, performing strongly as a first or second wheat on light or heavy soils, regardless of season or region, says RAGT’s Tom Dummett.
“It is the highest yielding soft feed variety on the RL, with a five-year treated mean yield of 103.1%, and yields more than any other soft wheat in the second wheat position.
“It can be sown from late September into February. It is high tillering with good autumn vigour, and is quick to get away in the spring.
“RGT Bairstow has good disease resistance and is resistant to orange wheat blossom midge. It has good resistance to sprouting and is rated good for distilling,” he adds.
The variety is being fully launched this summer ready for this autumn’s drilling campaign, and demand is expected to be high, says Tom.
* Go to www.ragtseeds.co.uk/news for more harvest news on RGT Bairstow and other RAGT varieties.
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