As combines roll across the country early results for Einstein are looking very encouraging, says Lee Robinson of plant breeders Nickerson.

The company's star winter wheat variety is putting in a good performance - maintaining its top spot for yield among the Group 2 wheats in both the HGCA and TAG trial lists.

"Growers are very happy with the way in which Einstein has performed this year - as both a first and second wheat," says Mr Robinson. "This is testament to the variety's flexibility."

One such grower is Adrian Howell, farm manager of Proctor Bros of Long Sutton, South Lincolnshire. Eighty hectares of Einstein was drilled toward the end of September 2004, to be grown for seed; now being harvested the Einstein is coming at 11 t/ha.

"Of all the varieties we've combined so far, Einstein has one of the highest yields," says Mr Howell. "It hasn't been tested yet as it should go for seed, but we're not ruling out selling it on for milling.

"We're very pleased with how the Einstein has come on this harvest. We will certainly be growing more next year."

Charles Ireland, of Strutt and Parker's Chelmsford office, manages farms in Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk. He grows Einstein on approximately 15% of this land.

"Einstein is a good, safe variety for us," says Mr Ireland. "Its combination of good agronomic traits and good yield, plus the fact that it can be grown equally well in both a first and second wheat slot over a range of soils, ensures it a place on our farms."

He adds: "It's had a cracking year for us. Of the varieties we've harvested this year it's in the top two or three, with quality also very good."

Mr Ireland also makes the point that Einstein's export potential means it is good choice wheat for those farms that are close to ports.