Hovis needs Red Wheat...
...Red Wheat needs growers like you!

Red Wheat Bread

UK Development of Red Wheat

 In 2002 Premium Crops Ltd were reviewing the cereal market in the UK looking for added value opportunities for UK farmers. A chance telephone call from a UK farmer coincided with this review. The grower told us he had grown Canadian Wheat in the UK without problem and that, although the yield was lower than conventional Wheat, he could get sufficient value from a local market to make up the difference! After further research into varieties, imported values and agronomics Premium Crops Ltd agreed that this was indeed an opportunity for UK farmers!

Since 2003 Premium Crops Limited have developed this crop with agronomy trials, working with millers and securing the best varieties. The variety A C Barrie was especially selected because it is the most acceptable to UK millers and the most consistent in baking trials. Premium Crops Ltd are now the UK agents for this variety.

  Milling Wheat Feed Wheat Red Wheat
yield (t/ha 8.3 10 4 4.75 5.5
Price (£/t) 135 109 244 244 244
Output (£/ha) 1120.5 1090 976 1159 1342
Inputs (£/ha) 405 397 361 361 361
Gross Margin (£/ha) 715.5 693 615 798 981

 

  • SAFE & SECURE - Incredibly consistent quality with 97% of crops achieving specification

  • GOOD LOGISTICS - Less bulk to handle, dry and store

  • EARLY HARVEST - Typically late July harvest

  • FLEXIBLE - Suits all moisture retentive soils
    Sow any time from October to April

  • LOW INPUT - Up to £50.00/hectare saving on Nitrogen
    Potential to use farm saved seed for following year
    Growing for Hovis with the UK’s largest miller and baker

With six harvests of experience and a new, even higher value requirement from Hovis to go for, the economics of Red Wheat has never been better.

Incidentally, the farmer who made the original phone call is still growing Red Wheat, with a planned 40 ha for 2010!