Seed supplies of some of the more popular winter wheat varieties may be in short supply this year as a result of the hot weather and the unpredictable nature of varietal popularity, warns Advanta Seeds.
The recent hot spell may have resulted in a stress free harvest, but the downside has been that screening levels in seed wheat crops are up to three times higher than usual.
"We would normally expect to see screenings of about 5%, but this year due to the combination of hot weather, a lack of moisture and early ripening, screenings have been as high as 15% in some varieties," explains Bram van der Have of Advanta Seeds.
"Screening losses vary much more than normal between regions, first and 2nd cereal crops and soils types. In addition overall crop yields are between 10 to 15% down on the norm of the last few years."
Although the seed trade tries to reflect likely changes in varietal popularity in their seed production programmes, early indications are that this year the seed trade has found it more difficult to forecast farmers buying behaviour, which is putting additional pressure on seed supplies of certain varieties.
"As a result of the combination of these factors, a serious loss of potential availability in some varieties is a distinct possibility. Growers wishing to ensure they can obtain the variety of their choice, would be well advised to secure supply seed supplies early rather then rely on the just in time ordering habit and hoping to pick up their favoured variety".
