Oilseed
Member
- Location
- North Cambs
Not what it says here, can any body clarify?
Belepi wheat real life experience
- Thread starter Beefsmith
- Start date
Not what it says here, can any body clarify?
This is the second year I've grown it. Last year as a second wheat, direct drilled in a moderate fashion with an old Bettinson TC4 - it was too wet when it was drilled last April and then dried out fast, and didn't get moisture for a good while. This is certainly true:
This year, I've a few acres as a trial second wheat, direct drilled into a cover crop with our Moore drill. Its been too dry from the start, sown in March, slow to get going, but covered the ground fast once it got going. Pretty clean variety both years. Last year didn't quite hit 5t/ha, but to be fair, it had everything against it, hence another go this year.
Its place for me (since we grow spring barley very well after beet) is as a second wheat before spring oats, to give a double spring crop for grassweed control, preceded by a cover crop. (target sowing date Feb) I'm not as fussed by its yield as its margin - ie a winter wheat needs to yield more because it costs more to grow.
This year, I've a few acres as a trial second wheat, direct drilled into a cover crop with our Moore drill. Its been too dry from the start, sown in March, slow to get going, but covered the ground fast once it got going. Pretty clean variety both years. Last year didn't quite hit 5t/ha, but to be fair, it had everything against it, hence another go this year.
Its place for me (since we grow spring barley very well after beet) is as a second wheat before spring oats, to give a double spring crop for grassweed control, preceded by a cover crop. (target sowing date Feb) I'm not as fussed by its yield as its margin - ie a winter wheat needs to yield more because it costs more to grow.
No5
Member
- Location
- South Essex
We've been growing Belepi for about 5 years as a spring wheat option for BPS, always sown end oct/early nov. It is the variety not the sowing date which dictates whether spring or winter. We were told when we started growing it that it was a robigus samoa cross but was classified as a Spring wheat. Has this changed?
Last edited:
No5
Member
- Location
- South Essex
1st line of the variety summary says it is recognised as a Spring Wheat for the 3 crop rule in England and Wales.
- Location
- Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
Mulika?
Fantastic as a Blackgrass deterant.
A milling Wheat but a bit of a beggar to thresh.
Midnight plough boy
Member
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Sprog
Member
- Location
- South Shropshire
- Location
- South Lincs
I believe that the breeder (very cleverly) registered the variety as a spring wheat for BPS purposes (one of it's parents was a spring variety) which is in part why it got a bit of interest when BPS and the 3 crop rule first came into being. Even though it was never on the Recommended List. I would assume that unless the rules have changed it is still classed as a spring wheat for BPS purposes (though as stated it is actually a winter wheat)
We tried some back in it's early days as a spring wheat drilled in March and were very disappointed. In fairness this was back when the breeder was still advising cutting seed rates and it was a cold spring. It yielded really poorly and seemed to be really slow to grow (would have been swamped by blackgrass had there been any). We'd have been better off with a traditional spring variety. I think it is a lot more vigorous when planted in winter though.
Several people round here tried it but none seem to have kept it on which probably tells it's own story. A shame, as on paper there was a lot to like about the variety.
Ebbage Seeds
Member
- Location
- Ely, Cambridgeshire
Gentlemen thank you for your comments.
Firstly it was a pure fluke that Belepi was recognised as a spring wheat for the purposes of the 3 crop rule, for it is biologically a winter wheat being that it needs vernalisation to produce seed (albeit very little).
We do not monitor the detail of BPS - it is a subsidy for farmers, not merchants and therefore it is your responsibility to check the rules and make sure that the variety is suitable for your needs - hence the reference to not accepting liability.
Secondly, due to BREXIT we have had to add Belepi to the UK national List as a winter wheat, or else we would not be able to sell it in the UK once we left the EU, it having previously only been registered on the EU common catalogue. As you can imagine this is a very recent change. Websites are being adjusted in readiness for the new season and the guidelines for all our lines are to be updated accordingly.
Firstly it was a pure fluke that Belepi was recognised as a spring wheat for the purposes of the 3 crop rule, for it is biologically a winter wheat being that it needs vernalisation to produce seed (albeit very little).
We do not monitor the detail of BPS - it is a subsidy for farmers, not merchants and therefore it is your responsibility to check the rules and make sure that the variety is suitable for your needs - hence the reference to not accepting liability.
Secondly, due to BREXIT we have had to add Belepi to the UK national List as a winter wheat, or else we would not be able to sell it in the UK once we left the EU, it having previously only been registered on the EU common catalogue. As you can imagine this is a very recent change. Websites are being adjusted in readiness for the new season and the guidelines for all our lines are to be updated accordingly.
Ninjago
Member
- Location
- south shropshire
Well that's the end for me using Belepi!
Would I be right is thinking that the RPA use and only use the AHDB variety listings for classing winter and spring crops?
How does the maturity of a autumn (end of Oct / early Nov) sown spring wheat compare to a winter wheat sown at a similar time?
Would I be right is thinking that the RPA use and only use the AHDB variety listings for classing winter and spring crops?
How does the maturity of a autumn (end of Oct / early Nov) sown spring wheat compare to a winter wheat sown at a similar time?
No5
Member
- Location
- South Essex
Same here.
Not all of us on here are gentlemen!
Ebbage Seeds
Member
- Location
- Ely, Cambridgeshire
Apologies
Ebbage Seeds
Member
- Location
- Ely, Cambridgeshire
No, the 3crop ruling -if it remains in place, refers to varieties on the UK national list, which includes far more than those recommended by AHDB.
An autumn-sown spring wheat would generally be earlier to reach maturity, but it could also suffer from winter hardiness issues (Belepi being a winter wheat hasn’t a problem here) and it could also produce an ear too early as spring wheats do not require vernalisation (Belepi is winter dormant). You could also run into standing and disease issues.
Tried Belepi for a couple of seasons as a spring wheat. Direct drilled into near perfect conditions in March both years. Very slow to get going and poor ground cover to help with blackgrass. Seed rates should have been around 190kg/ha instead of the 110kg/ha recommended. Pretty disappointed both times with the margin (or lack of). Anyone any thoughts on a faster developing true spring wheat? Can't have the whole farm down to spring barley after this dreadful autumn.
Ebbage Seeds
Member
- Location
- Ely, Cambridgeshire
Can you advise what the TGW was as ‘spring wheat sowing rate less 10%’ is the recommendation, which would normally be nearer your 190 suggestion.
shakerator
Member
- Location
- LINCS
Kilburn
Can't remember the TGW but was advised to go at 110kg/ha by my agronomist. Said it has fantastic tillering abilities......wrong. Probably a good late drilled wheat following beet or spuds in the autumn but not for late march in a wet spring.
- Location
- East yorks
We drilled in April a couple of years and were in the 230kg/ha+ rates
- Location
- Cirencester
Jan Mulika went on at 190kg/ha but in the Spring I would be starting at 250kg/ha, I have experimented with rates right up to 450kg/ha (mainly due to a callibration cock up!) but normally find it does ok at 250-300kg/ha.