German E winter wheats offering high gluten, high quality and strong disease resistance are gaining traction with UK growers. Nelson is a standout variety which has delivered more staggering results in 2019 trials.
The latest trials show that Nelson achieved a notable 14.39 protein content, which is a key feature for millers and the specific weight was equally impressive, at 78.9 Kg/hl.
George Mason from Heygates millers is clear that the demand for UK grown milling wheats is increasing. “We are committed to using the maximum amount of homegrown wheat wherever possible however for some of our flour we require wheat with specific characteristics or functionality that we cannot achieve with traditional grains.”
George explains that, seed-supplied by Cope Seeds, this variety has established itself onto UK farms, giving growers a premium over group one milling wheat. “We have identified that Nelson grown to 14% protein brings us quality and functionality that will displace imported wheat. Through baking, we found Nelson showed a white crumb, no evidence of weakness and produced loaves of good volume. By offering a buy-back contract that incentivises growers, the combination of an additional quality premium and the benefits of the variety on-farm, we are finding the variety very popular.”
Trials data
Lincolnshire-based seed and grain specialist Cope Seeds and Grain has been supplying German E wheats to the UK market for over 10 years.
“Nelson is bred by SZ Schweiger GbR, one of the leading German plant breeders we work with, we started to work with Nelson when we found out it produced grain with outstanding bread-making quality and was classed as “E” quality, the highest quality rating attainable,” says Gemma.
Standout characteristics of Nelson:
- High untreated yield potential
- Nelson is tall and was 10cm taller than Crusoe but scored a nine for standing
- Nelson matured earlier than any other variety in milling trials and matured two days earlier in its most Northern trial
- The specific weight of Nelson was the highest across the trials
- Nelson also retained its green leaf the longest displaying its overall disease resistance
- Nelson has the ability to achieve higher levels of protein from lower levels of nitrogen
- The variety scores well for yellow rust resistance
Results from Agrii AW Milling Variety Trial, from crop drilled on 27th November, 2018
| Name | Description | Comment 1 | Seeding Rate | Seed Check | Yellow Rust (1-9) | Brown Rust (1-9) | Crop Heights (cm) | Yield (t/ha) @15% m.c. | Yield % Controls | Specific Weight (kg/hl) |
| 22/05/2019 | 28/06/2019 | 01/08/2019 | 03/08/2019 | 03/08/2019 | 03/08/2019 | |||||
| 45 | 99 | 99 | 99 | |||||||
| Skyfall | RL (G1) | RAGT | 400 | Y | 5 | 1 | 73 | 5.77 | 89.2 | 69 |
| Crusoe | RL (G1) | LG | 400 | Y | 1 | 7 | 75 | 6.83 | 105.7 | 75.6 |
| Nelson | CC (E Qual.) | COPE | 400 | 1 | 6 | 82 | 7.29 | 112.8 | 76.4 |
