Growers with Claire winter wheat in the ground should pay extra attention to the variety between now and harvest to maximise potential premiums on offer. Already setting the standard for biscuit production in the UK, demand for Claire from exporters is also high and good premiums will chase the best samples.

That’s according to Nickerson Senior Wheat Breeder Bill Angus, who says that although there are few growers who haven’t grown the variety previously, it is important for them to take stock of Claire’s new status as a premium potential variety.

“Maximising yield potential should be the driver,” says Mr Angus. “Unlike bread wheats where protein dilution can result in deductions on sale, the biscuit and export markets are much less demanding with respect to protein content and so growers should not stint when it comes to inputs.”

Despite the south of the country experiencing dry conditions this spring, yield potential for the variety is still high and, given regular rainfall from now on, nitrogen rates should be maintained, he suggests.

“Fungicide use must be based upon the ‘tried and tested’ formula of triazole chemistry combined with chlorothalonil, and although the costs of these have risen they will still give an attractive financial return on investment,” comments Mr Angus.
“Growers should not reduce rates,” he stresses.

He says that much of the Claire on farms will have been selected by growers for early sowing, and this does present challenges to growers – standing power is put under pressure and therefore timings of plant growth regulators (and product choice) are critical. “However, eyespot, which is often wrongly regarded as only a problem in second wheats, can be very damaging, so T2 applications should be used which can counter this threat. Products such as Proline (prothioconazole) and Tracker (boscalid + epoxiconazole) have found favour at T2 to counter this threat.”

Mr Angus believes that this season has seen more mildew than in previous years, but by using both old and new products this should not pose a significant problem. “Flexity (metrafenone) carries the benefit of introducing a level of eyespot control if used for countering the threat of mildew. Mildew can be problematic on light land and fen soils, but rarely reduces yield potential in Claire,” he says.

“Overall Claire has a good disease profile,” he continues, “particularly for foliar diseases, but robust T2 and T3 fungicide applications will pay for themselves.” Strobilurins, he suggests should be included as routine in the T2 application to enhance green leaf area – building up clean leaves to maximise photosynthesis.
“Strobilurins will also protect against any threats from brown rust following the evolution of a new race during 2007, and growers should be applying a T3 as standard to ‘top up’ their fungicide programme and counter any threats from fusarium and brown rust.

“Those growers with maize in the rotation, or adjacent to their wheat crops, should be particularly aware of this threat,” he adds.

At harvest, Mr Angus says that growers should aim to combine Claire crops as soon as possible. As is the case with all soft wheats currently in the market, sprouting can be an issue, reducing Hagbergs and decreasing specific weights, he concludes.

For more information on Claire please click here. Alternatively, contact Lee Robinson on 01472 371471 or email: enquiries@nickerson.co.uk