Successful 2011 for Null-Lox malting barley
Null-Lox malting barley has outperformed conventional varieties in independent spring barley trials carried out in 2011 by OAT (Oxford Agricultural Trials Ltd) and Hutchinsons - a result that confirms positive farmer grower experiences across the UK.
’The independent trials produced robust data showing that new-for-2012 variety Cheerio is 8% higher yielding than Tipple and 2% higher than Propino,’ says sole agent Gleadell’s Stuart Shand. ’Also, established varieties Charmay and Cha Cha have performed at a similar level or above traditional varieties.’
’The average yield in trials of all the Null-Lox varieties was 6.02 t/ha compared to 5.54 t/ha for the leading conventional variety.
’For the future, the Null-Lox breeding programme has promising new varieties in the pipeline that are equally early to establish and harvest. Chapeau is set for 2013 launch and is 10% higher yielding than the current most popular conventional variety.’
These trials results match the practical experience of growers across the main malting barley regions in 2011.
In the north, Bill Webb of Aracon Farming commented: ’This is my second season with Null-Lox and I am very pleased with the yield and quality. It is a consistent performer, easy to combine and is in demand. Next years seed is already ordered!"
Philip Wynn in the Midlands has been growing Null-Lox barley for Gleadell for two years now and is clearly impressed with the results: ’In our first year I was reluctant to move completely away from Tipple, which had been our mainstay for spring malting barley production, but the results in terms of both yield and quality made the switch to 100% Null-Lox a ’no-brainer’. It is not often we have the opportunity to grow a malting crop which the brewers want with a specification which is easier to meet. Couple that with pricing linked to wheat futures and it’s a great package."
Lincolnshire grower Jonathan Fenwick had a similar positive view: ’We grew Null-Lox on a larger contract and have some excellent yields - on average just over 7.4t/ha, but up to 8.9t/ha in places.’
In the south, Wiltshire malting barley grower Henry Swanton adds, ’Our Charmay Null-Lox barley was as reliable and just as excellent as last year yielding 9.1/T per hectare and again outyielded the conventional variety on the farm.’
Stuart Shand stressed that Null-Lox gives malting barley growers a new exciting variety that has a secure end market: ’There are no surplus worries with a buyback linked to wheat futures. Also, it is a one year contract, so no long term tie-in and growers have the flexibility to fix the price when they think the price is right.’
