New appointment ensures quality of breeding programmes

Nickerson has recently appointed Les Daubney as vining pea coordinator. His new position involves monitoring stock and quality on the pea breeding programme, based in Docking, Norfolk.

Quality control is vital to the programme's success, and has resulted in better, more even crops and a market share that has risen dramatically in the last decade.

In addition to coordinating the vining-pea programme Mr Daubney is also responsible for contracting seed crops for the full range of arable crops marketed by Nickerson.

Frank Curtis, Nickerson's marketing director says Mr Daubney's value to the company is his many years of experience and knowledge of the seed trade.

"Ensuring the purity of the seed we produce is crucial for processors, and vital to the future of our breeding programmes. Les's appointment will be a great boost to the company. He has excellent contacts within the farming industry and superior knowledge. We are confident he will help us maintain the high standards of quality control that has revolutionised the varieties we produce – cereals and peas - to the ultimate benefit of the UK's growers."

Les Daubney has worked in the seed trade for over 20 years and was latterly employed by Dalgety.

The Nickerson vining-pea variety portfolio is sold under the Sharpes brand name, and consists mainly of standard sized peas spanning all maturity groups with both normal leaf and semi-leafless types.