Learn about the best new varieties and a great future at Elsoms’ launch event

The first Elsoms’ Launch Event, at Rothamsted Conference Centre on April 17, introduced by Elsoms’ Chairman Roger Keeling, will feature Elsoms’ Head of Wheat bBreeding, Stephen Smith and Deputy Head of Wheat Breeding, Milika Buurman who will take guests through the outstanding characteristics of Elicit winter wheat, the only newly recommended AHDB Group 3 biscuit variety, which combines very high yield with outstanding all-round disease resistance and impressive specific weight. They will also showcase Elation, the new Group 4 winter wheat from Elsoms, which has attracted strong demand as a result of its positive rating for distilling combined with impressive specific weight, a strong agronomic package and impressive yellow rust resistance.

Adrian Hayler, Head of Elsoms’ Agricultural Division and Alexander Strube, joint Managing Director of Elsoms’ Ackermann Barley will present Elsoms Ackermann Barley. This is an exciting joint venture barley breeding company, with a similar strategic model to Elsoms Wheat, which is already attracting a lot of attention in the UK and European barley market. Adrian and Alexander will detail the innovative new spring malting barley varieties, Chanson and Sangria. Both have attracted strong interest from end users and are already supported by attractive buy back contracts from Elsoms’ merchant partners.

Dr Richard Jennaway, Technical Director for Saaten Union UK and Andrew Creasy, Product Manager for Cereals at Saaten Union UK will explain Elsoms’ industry leading hybrid wheat portfolio, marketed by Elsoms under the HySeed banner. “The hybrid wheat varieties that have been available in the UK recently have only appealed to farmers on marginal cereal land. The work we’ve done in developing hybrids will see a new phase of varieties starting to emerge from the “HySeed programme, with exciting potential for the UK market,” said Richard.

Jon Falk, Managing Director of SUBiotec, a leading plant breeding biotech facility in Europe, will explain the role his facility plays in supporting Elsoms Wheat and Elsoms Ackermann Barley. Jon will give an insight in to the next significant advance in plant breeding technology, that will help produce commercially strong varieties into a future where plant protection products are likely to play an ever-reduced role.

Colin Lloyd, Head of Agronomy at Agrii, will conclude the presentations by tackling one of the most pressing issues for growers with a look at the effect of variety choice on blackgrass control, demonstrating the strong performance of the Elsoms’ Wheat varieties in blackgrass trials over the last 3 years.

The meeting at Rothamsted Research will be followed by further launch events in Berwick and York, to be held in April and May, with precise dates and locations to be confirmed later.