UK growers must take advantage of export opportunities for hard milling group 2 wheats to secure the markets made available by British Cereals Exports, urges top UK wheat breeder.

"BCE have opened up the doors for export to Spain, Portugal and Italy, and we need to push farmers to take a look at what is through those doors because if they don't take the opportunity the domestic price will continue to be eroded and other exporters like France will step in and take it instead," says Nickerson's Bill Angus.

Southern European markets want hard milling quality wheats like Einstein, to blend with their higher protein varieties. And Einstein is unique in that its Chopin Alveograph performance is just what the European millers need, which makes it highly desirable as an export wheat as well as in its role in the domestic market, he explains.

"And because Einstein's yield is consistently high - 105% average in five years of RL trials and always one of the top three or four yielding varieties - there is the option to sell into other markets if growers begin to understand its marketability."

But growers must first ask themselves, "Who is my customer?" and then use a strategy to grow for each one. Many growers will be growing Einstein as a high yielding feed variety, but with an eye on trading it into the domestic bread making, feed or export markets, says Mr Angus.

Growers aiming for the UK domestic bread making market must ensure they apply sufficient nitrogen and sulphur to compensate for the protein dilution effect that occurs on higher yielding varieties. Growers should take advantage of the up to date husbandry guidelines provided, he adds.

"This year Einstein has had another consistent year and it is now a first choice for the difficult second wheat 'slot' - yielding 106% of controls over five years. Protein can be more easily managed in second wheats as the average 10% yield reduction in second wheats lessens the dilution effect," explains Mr Angus.

So long as growers ensure they tailor inputs to their desired end market growers' confidence in Einstein will grow, adds Mr Angus.

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