Blackgrass is a growing threat to wheat growers in the UK and there is a range of strategies to combat it. One addition to growers’ armoury added this season is the new wheat variety Belepi which has a number of specific agronomic pluses that suit it to join in the battle.

“We all recognise that non-chemical methods will become increasingly important in the fight against blackgrass as resistance issues makes relying on herbicides alone less sustainable,” says Matthew Phillips of merchants GFP Agriculture Ltd. “A mix of tactics such as delayed autumn drilling, ploughing, and more spring cropping are all worth considering. 

“We believe that choice of variety can be another weapon that wheat growers can use to counter blackgrass, and new wheat variety Belepi meets the need in a number of ways.

“The very wide sowing window of Belepi – from October through to the end of March –provides the opportunity to employ practical blackgrass control methods prior to drilling, ploughing or stale seedbed establishment.

“With around 80% of blackgrass emergence taking place in the autumn, if Belepi is sown in the spring, like most spring-sown crops it will give a good reduction in weed infestation. Add to this the highly competitive nature of Belepi - with its aggressive spring growth habit in April - plus the variety’s excellent crop covering capability, and you have an excellent means of blackgrass suppression. 

“We have seen the effect of Belepi on our customers’ farms this season, and this example will serve to underline the value of the variety.

“One field of winter wheat on a farm near us was drilled mid-October and had a standard fertiliser and agrochemical programme.  And yet it is now probably destined for whole crop as the level of blackgrass infestation has made it unsuitable even for feed use.

“On the adjoining field, the crop of Belepi, drilled mid-March, has fought off the blackgrass challenge through its smothering effect at the key growth stages of the blackgrass. Yes, there is still a bit of blackgrass in the crop, but the threat has been combated to a very impressive degree by Belepi’s aggressive spring growth.”

“Also, as the Belepi was drilled in March, the level of inputs are much lower than the next door winter-drilled crop, increasing the net margin,” adds Matthew.

Chris Allison of Timaru Farm, north Lincs, is one of this year’s growers of the new variety: “As Matthew Phillips of GFP says, looking at our two adjoining wheat crops, the Belepi has certainly kept the blackgrass at bay. The variety has joined in our battle against blackgrass and the dramatic difference between the two fields is there for all to see.

“We have already saved on input costs by drilling it in the spring, and if we can get a worthwhile yield from our Belepi – and the crop looks good now – then it will be an excellent addition to our battle against blackgrass.”