Harvest Results: Bronx and Excel catch TAG’s eye

Despite a fitful start to the 2007 harvest, members of The Arable Group (TAG) are now beginning to benefit from its Rapid Variety Results Service.

But with such an unusual year, in particular so many varietal disease resistance changes, careful and appropriate variety selection will be more important than ever, the organisation warns.

"The next few weeks will see a vast amount of information being generated from our 59 variety trials across 23 sites," says Dave Robinson, Managing Director for TAG Direct. "Summarised and sent out to our members, this data will have a significant bearing on the profitability of their farm businesses.

"Despite the catchy weather, variety trials results continue to be processed and sent to TAG members within 24hrs of harvest," he points out.

"Initial results have shown Bronx, the six-row winter barley variety, to be the highest yielder at TAG's Caythorpe site in Lincolnshire whilst the oilseed rape variety, Excel, from a low seed rate of 70 seeds/m2 has been the top performer at Wylye in Wiltshire."

"Clearly, it's not just the yield that matters. TAG will be analysing the agronomic characteristics of all the varieties under test and reporting on the resulting gross margin analysis to our members," explains Dave.