‘Temporary’ closure of Europe’s biggest bioethanol plant highlights security of export opportunities for UK soft wheats

17/05/2011

With the recent news that Ensus have mothballed their bioethanol deliveries for the near future and with questions about the security of bio-ethanol markets, growers making decisions about harvest 2012 should be seriously considering the strong export opportunities for Group 3 and Group 4 soft wheats.image expired

“The demand for UK milling wheats has never been stronger,” says Marc Rogerson, trading manager with Gleadell. “North African and European markets are, and will remain strong destinations for soft wheats for the foreseeable future - offering UK growers a strong opportunity for harvest 2012.”

“The security offered by this export market is set to get stronger as food security for particular areas of the world such as North Africa and the Middle East, becomes an increasingly political issue – governments need to reassure their populations that there is a steady and secure supply of wheat – and the UK is better placed and closer than any other competing markets, such as the USA, for delivering these highly desired, quality soft wheats. ”

Bill Angus, senior wheat breeder with Limagrain UK says “with excellent Group 3 and Group 4 varieties suited to export on offer, UK growers could not be better placed to make the most of this opportunity– there is no doubt that these soft milling wheats  provide a ‘safe haven’ for the UK cereal grower for the next harvest.”

“With markets for hard milling Group 4’s limited now and as this is often combined with the difficulties posed by specific disease threats such as yellow rust to varieties in this group, it’s definitely time for growers to move towards a more risk averse option, that is lower disease risk crops with a guaranteed market.”

“Whilst varieties such as Alchemy, Istabraq and Cassius remain firm favourites within this group, growers also need to consider the new generation of soft wheat varieties such as Gravitas and Horatio for harvest 2012,” he says.

“These varieties certainly challenge the hard wheats in terms of excellent disease profiles and biscuit making characteristics, whilst also offering additional properties such as orange blossom midge resistance.

“Gravitas which was recommended by HGCA last year will soon be joined in the market place by Horatio.  Horatio, which is up for recommendation this autumn combines high yield with very good resistance to all foliar diseases with an 8 for yellow rust and a 7 for Septoria tritici and has OWBM resistance.”