So Tell Me All About......Red Wheat

[franklin]

Looks to me that the only way to make it pay is to meet the spec. That sound about right? How does it cut? Does it tiller? Anyone growing it?

 

[Clive]

was offered seed today - £675/t

i'm told rill circa 200kg/ha ??

£125 / t premium over feed for 15% protein

was considering it as an alternative to 110ac of linseed we have planned but agronomist says don't bother ! reckons its getting too late for red wheat ??

 

[Old Spot]

Have grown it , this is my fourth season. Yield vary 1.1t (drought) up to 1.9 t/ac, last year tad over 1.5t easy to grow will only tiller satisfactorily if planted by now, so up seed rate to at least 200 or more. Have been planting at 180 kg/ha till now.
No problem getting spec normally, put over gravity separator to stop deductions last year. Grown on contract so guaranteed premium, fits in well to control blackgrass and use cover crops. Hovis cut back their contracts last year because they couldn't get the flour grist right (so I've been told) now they are short, weird!
Cuts ok bit tough if not fit will not thresh heads cleanly so will need cleaning. So bit of admin but I like it, if premium stays where it is will continue.

 

[Old Spot]

Just to make me feel better this is one of my fields of red wheat last year planted on about 15 March T180kg/ha

 

[franklin]

So 1.3t/ac at £300/t

or about £1000/ha

£130/ha seed
£150/ha fert

Suppose it will be a bit less "fussy" than spring barley though?

 

[RBM]

Grew it for a couple of seasons and it did reasonably well, although didn't like the dry spring of 2011 and yield dropped by 1.7 t/ha from the previous year. Not a high input crop except the seed, fairly easy to get the protein as well and it didn't need a foliar top up.

 

[Andrew K]

You need toput it over a gravity seperator for sure
Its a sod for ergot and a hagberg boost will be a bonus

 

[SilliamWhale]

was offered seed today - £675/t

i'm told rill circa 200kg/ha ??

£125 / t premium over feed for 15% protein

was considering it as an alternative to 110ac of linseed we have planned but agronomist says don't bother ! reckons its getting too late for red wheat ??

Seed costs not a lot more than normal SW.

 

[R&D]

If we get ours drilled this year we will have grown it 4 out of the last 5 years and thats only because we couldnt get a contract last year. Like everyone else yields are a bit variable but quality has never been an issue to meet spec. Harvest same time as winter wheats and like Old Spot said it does take more thrashing. Downside is dont expect it to leave the farm in the period you specify. All in all part of our rotation as a second wheat and here to stay unless the sums dont add up!

 

[warksfarmer]

Know somebody in year 5 with it and it yields poorly and not what you are promised. 1t/ac is very good but budget on 0.8t/ac as 5 yr average. Proteins are generally high but not always as high as they require and then its just normal wheat. My spring linseed beat him this year at 0.8t/ac and required less inputs.

 

[Cropwell]

If he's only averaged 0.8t/ac over 5 years my advice to him would be to stop growing it ! I budget on 1.25t/ac. 1.5t/ac is easily achievable in a reasonable year but yield could be down to only 1t/ac if its a dry Spring, particularly if later sown on clay soils like mine.

 

[franklin]

Last time we grew spring wheat it was 15% ergot, which is my major concern.

 

[Elmsted]

Last time we grew spring wheat it was 15% ergot, which is my major concern.

A that rate sell it to local drug dealer make a fortune.