Countryside Seeds Ltd

Several promising new wheat varieties from leading plant breeder RAGT that could soon be filling drills around the country were highlighted at the company’s recent Variety Focus Day.

RAGT Seeds wheat breeder Célia Bequain gave growers and the seed trade an early introduction to the new material, which could build on the success of varieties such as RGT Skyfall and RGT Gravity, forecast to be the UK’s most popular wheat varieties this coming autumn.

The new varieties exhibited the consistency for which RAGT is becoming increasingly well-known – high yield potential backed by solid disease resistance, good grain quality and an ability to excel in a range of conditions.

This will help ensure RAGT’s pipeline continues to produce farmer-friendly varieties with longevity, that will perform reliably across different sites and seasons.

Picks of the bunch included three varieties in National List 1 trials. The first, a potential Group 1 bread-maker with Gallant in its parentage, produces Skyfall-type yields of quality grain, rated excellent/good by millers in early tests.

“It maintained an excellent Hagberg in the 2017 harvest when many other varieties greatly declined,” said Célia. “It has a very good disease resistance profile including a 9 for rusts and 6.4 for Septoria tritici.”

The second, a Cougar/Kielder cross, has great potential as a Group 3 wheat. Strong rust resistance scores and a Septoria rating just shy of 6 helps push yields to an impressive 106% of controls.

“We dispatched samples to several millers over two very different seasons and they have all confirmed good dough characteristics,” said Célia.

The final NL1 pick is a hard feed wheat with RGT Gravity-plus yields, which has shown sector-leading consistency across the UK and Europe. It has good potential as a later-drilled barnfiller.



Real promise

A brace of NL2 varieties also show real promise. Both have exceptional stability, excelling in the UK and across north-west Europe.

The first, a Cougar/Santiago cross, exhibits exceptional disease resistance combined with very high treated and untreated yields, including a 7 for Septoria tritici. This soft Group 4 wheat also has midge resistance.

“The AHDB is becoming more and more focused on the overall package, not just yield, trying to provide growers with what they want, much as we are. This variety seems to fulfil the brief.”

Snapping at its heels is a high-tillering Kielder/Relay cross with sound disease and midge resistance. “It is relatively early to harvest and has potential as an early driller,” says Célia.

RGT Skyfall coming on strongly in Notts
RGT Skyfall has come on strongly at Thoresby Home Farm, near Perlethorpe in Nottinghamshire, in the past few weeks, making up for the delay caused by the prolonged cold spring.

“The T1 spray went on in early May, a but later than normal time-wise although it was at the correct growth stage,” says assistant manager Will Baker.

“By the time T2 came around we were back on track, spraying the RGT Skyfall on 25 May.”

The crop, grown on 265ha of mainly light land, has remained generally clean throughout.

“We applied 1 litre/ha of Adexar (fluxapyroxad + epoxiconazole) at both timings, with CTL,” says Will.

A T3 application of Proline went on in the first week of June, mainly as a precaution against Fusarium. “We try to get the crop into milling homes, so it makes sense to keep it clean right through,” says Will.

Foliar N was also pencilled in. “Yields might be back a bit this year given the season, so protein content may be a bit higher than usual anyway, so it will probably be worth giving it a push as we are more likely to see a good return on the investment.”

Most of the RGT Skyfall has received two lots of irrigation, around 20mm a time, some water before pipes were lifted and moved to potato fields. “Crops look like they’ve plenty of potential, especially now they’ve got wet feet,” says Will.

Leading wheat RGT Gravity looks set for another season of top yields
RGT Gravity, a three-way cross of Oakley, Scout and Santiago, is set for a further outstanding performance this season, judging by its appearance in trials up and down the country.

This Group 4 hard variety currently has the highest treated yield score of any wheat on the Recommended List, and looks on course to be one of the UK’s leading varieties this coming autumn and for several seasons to come.

“The variety led the way in three years of private trials and continued its winning performance in both NL1 and NL2 trials and during its RL trial year. There is every reason to think it will repeat that this coming harvest,” says RAGT technical sales manager Dr Cathy Hooper.

“It is currently looking very well in RL and private trials across the country, and on farms judging by what I’m seeing and hearing.

“Over the past few seasons RGT Gravity has delivered top yields as a first and second wheat, on heavy and light soils, and it is also the top late-sown variety.

“It is putting in another strong performance in all these positions, standing out wherever it is grown, thanks to its big, bold flag leaf, just like one of its parents, Santiago.

The variety didn’t appear to suffer as much after the exceptionally cold and late winter, unlike some of its new and established rivals.

“Crops are well tillered and relatively forward as a result,” says Cathy. “It certainly seems like further exceptional yields are on the cards.”

RGT Gravity is also holding up well in untreated trials. It has a good disease profile, particularly against yellow rust, and is also resistant to orange wheat blossom midge.

“That will help growers sleep easy in a season like this, when the pest has been easy to spot in many crops. High populations can quickly downgrade yields and quality in susceptible varieties.”

While its exceptionally high yields are impressive, RGT Gravity also exhibits remarkable stability across different seasons and sites, which results in unrivalled consistency of performance.

RGT Gravity’s medium-height, stiff straw adds to its reliability, even in catchy summers. It also has good bold grain, with a specific weight of 76.8kg/hl.

“Overall, RGT Gravity’s exceptional consistency means that it can be expected to deliver the goods on farm season after season, making it a leading contender as the next farmers’ favourite – a dependable top performer that they will stick with for several years.”

Demand is likely to be very strong this autumn following a large uptake by growers even prior to recommendation. “This shows the confidence that British farmers have in the genetics delivered in RGT Gravity,” says Cathy.

RAGT to show five of the UK’s number one varieties at Cereals
Five of the UK’s top cereal/oilseed rape varieties will take pride of place on RAGT Seeds’ stand at Cereal 2018.

The display underlines the enormous effort that RAGT has put into developing a strong pipeline of material in recent years, which has delivered a string of successes across a range of species. This has reinforced the company’s growing reputation for excellence among growers and end users.

"RAGT can now claim to be the number one plant breeder in the UK and Europe,” says managing director Simon Howell.

“Our success stems from a local approach to the breeding business, combined with innovative research and development on an international scale.”

Quality and disease resistance are two important attributes that are receiving an almost equal focus to yield in the company’s breeding programmes.

“That approach, backed by some of the most advanced technology in the business, is helping to deliver varieties that can produce consistently high on-farm yields season after season,” says Mr Howell.

RGT Skyfall, the Group 1 winter wheat that combines feed wheat yields with milling wheat quality, has been the UK’s most widely grown winter wheat this season and last, the first time a milling wheat had achieved that position for more than 25 years.

Its combination of high yields, excellent quality and good functionality has made it an out-and-out favourite among UK milling wheat growers and end users. It is set to maintain a top position in 2018/19.

RGT Gravity, RAGT’s new Group 4 hard wheat, is the highest yielding winter wheat in the UK. It gained automatic promotion to the latest 2018/19 RL, the first time a feed variety has achieved that for over a decade.

It has proved very consistent, outperforming all other varieties in three years of private trials, plus NL1 and NL2 and during its RL trial year. It suits a wide range of soils as a first or second wheat.


IBD-approved spring barley RGT Planet has claimed the largest share of the UK spring barley market share in the UK this season and probably in Europe. This variety is the highest yielding fully approved spring barley on the RL.

It is also set to be the to be the most widely grown variety of any cereal species across the globe, being grown in 42 countries in 2018.

RAGT also has two leading oilseed rapes in the UK at Cereals. RGT Alizze is the highest gross output variety with full UK recommendation, while RGT Windozz has the highest gross output on the East/West list.

In addition, winter oat RGT Southwark will be on show. This variety was added to the 2018/19 RL as the highest yielding quality oat, at 106%.

As well as highlighting the key attributes of these varieties, RAGT staff will be on hand to discuss their performance in various rotational positions and drilling dates.

* RAGT Seeds is exhibiting on stand 561 at the Cereals event, which takes place on 13-14 June at Chrishall Grange, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

NEW!! Herbal Graze from Barenbrug UK.



Long-term herbal grazing ley

• A bio-diversity multi-species herbal ley which will adapt and thrive in diverse locations and soil types
• This diverse mixture has been proven to provide a hardy very long grazing season for ruminants this coupled with multi legume species to fix nutrients to sustain year-long production
  
  

• A bio-diversity multi-species herbal ley which will adapt and thrive in diverse locations and soil types
• This diverse mixture has been proven to provide a hardy very long grazing season for ruminants this coupled with multi legume species to fix nutrients to sustain year-long production
• Using the flowering species in this mixture alongside the all diploid grass constituents, vital beneficial pollinators can feed and gain shelter
• These species with deep penetrating roots will improve soil structure and they have the ability to make the best use of the available soil nutrients - all available moisture & minerals - helping with animal health and reducing the need for bought-in nutrients

The mix;

2.00kg Barelite Tall Fescue
2.00kg Cosmonaut Meadow Fescue
2.00kg Baraula Smooth Leaved Cocksfoot
0.50kg Comer Early Timothy
0.50kg Motim Late Timothy
2.00kg Moyola Early Perennial Ryegrass (DIP)
2.00kg Clanrye Late Perennial Ryegrass (DIP)
0.20kg Alice Large Leaf White Clover (Legume)
0.25kg Crusader Medium Leaf White Clover (Legume)
0.20kg S184 Small Leaf White Clover (Legume)
0.60kg Lemon Red Clover (Legume)
0.10kg Sanfoin (Legume)
0.10kg Birdsfoot Trefoil (Legume)
1.00kg Barvicos Vetch (Legume)
0.25kg Chicory (Perennial) (Herb)
0.05kg Ribwort (Plantain) (Herb)
0.03kg Yarrow (Herb)
0.05kg Sheeps Parsley (Herb)
0.11kg Salad Burnet (Herb)


Specifications
Sowing rate per acre 14kg
Sowing rate per hectare 35kg
Sowing rate/m² 3,500 seeds/m²

Please inquire regarding price.

Slurry Sol is the ideal treatment for slurry to improve its quality and reduce crusting issues.


Reduced Crusting
Slurry sol uses a combination of enzymes and bacteria to break down fibrous material and retain more nutrients in the slurry. The enzymes have an immediate impact on this breakdown, breaking the bonds that hold the fibres together. The bacteria are the key to long term effectiveness in slurry over a winter. The bacteria require both a carbon source and a nitrogen source to allow them to grow. The carbon comes from the organic material in the slurry and the nitrogen comes from the ammonia in the slurry. The advantages of this are that the solid material contains the carbon and this reduces the crusting and caking found in slurry. The second is that the ammonia which would otherwise be lost is tied up as microbial protein which is then safe from volatilisation during storage or spreading.


Untreated


Slurry Sol Treated

The pictures show the increased activity and reduction in solid material in a controlled environment.

More Nitrogen
The ammonia level in the slurry is reduced by Slurry Sol. The benefit of this is that the nitrogen is tied up to reduce losses. The Nitrogen is stored as microbial protein which cannot be lost to the atmosphere. When spread the Nitrogen is in an ideal form to feed the soil microbes. This in turn leads to improved soil health, less scorching of the sword and better regrowth.



The above trial result shows the reduction in ammonia as the bacteria consume the ammonia level. The results in an increase in retained Nitrogen in the slurry.

Less Odour
The odour level in the slurry is reduced due to the bacteria in Slurry Sol reducing the Ammonia level and breaking down other sulphurous compounds in the slurry. The result is less odour in sheds with underfloor slatted slurry stores. Less odour from outdoor stores and less odour at spreading time. The reduced odour is particularly obvious where closed housing is used on piggeries. The lower ammonia level will additionally improve animal health and performance.

Benefits

• Reduces crusting
• Reduces blockages
• Retains more Nitrogen
• Lower odour
• Slurry more consistent at spreading
• Reduction of flies
• Healthier Soil Structure
• Less scorch
• Better growth of swords

Usage
Use 1kg of Slurry Sol per 44,000 gals or 200m3 of store capacity.

Add Slurry Sol to the store based on the volume of the store. Distribute as well as possible to encourage best performance. Agitation is an ideal way to ensure the bacteria are well spread.

Where under slat stores are being treated mix the Slurry Sol in plenty of water and pour through the slats, if possible create a pool on top of the crust.

Regular agitation during the season will be rewarded with additional activity and less work at spreading time.

Countryside Seeds recommend:
Cool-Sile


Coolsile is a liquid preservative which is ideal for treating silages which are prone to aerobic spoilage

The preservatives in Coolsile inhibit the growth of moulds and yeasts. Moulds are responsible for producing mycotoxins which can effect animal performance and health. Yeasts are generally the cause of heating in clamps and together with mould increase losses, reduce palatability and lower animal performance Coolsile also inhibits clostridia and listeria which are a particular problem in high dry matter silages. This makes the product particularly suitable for use in haylage bales being fed to sheep and horses.

Coolsile is a combination of feed preservatives Sodium benzoate and Sodium nitrite which is are a safe to use format that will not harm machinery or concrete.

• Inhibits yeasts
• Inhibits moulds
• Inhibits listeria
• Inhibits clostridia
• Reduces heating in silage
• Minimises losses
• Maximises palatability
• Treats grass, wholecrop and maize

Trials
The trial below shows the results of a grass silage trial carried out at Malvern. The Coolsile treated silage lasted a week, after opening the silos, without heating but the untreated control was heating from around 1 day. Generally heat is generated in an open silage clamp by the growth of yeasts. Coolsile inhibits yeast growth, hence silage stays cool.



Dual Action on Grass
Cool sile can be used in combination with Sure Sile Fructan (@1/4 rate) on grass to give the benefits of both products. The Sure Sile Fructan controls fermentation bringing down the pH quickly and saving nutrients. The Coolsile ensures that the silage stays cool during feed-out to maximise animal performance.



Usage
Coolsile is available in 25, 200 and 1000 litre containers.
Use 0.75 litres per tonne for grass or maize
Use 1.0 litres tonne for wholecrop
Coolsile can be applied neat or diluted with water.



Use more Coolsile on areas where heating is likely to be an issue, ie on shoulders, the ramp and on summer fed material

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