Varieties from Limagrain have picked up two prizes at the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s annual Farm Business Competition, presented at a special awards dinner in October.
The competition recognises the best farms in Suffolk in three classes – Class 1 (up to 250 hectares), Class 2 (251-500 hectares) and Claas 3 (501 hectares or more) – as well as presenting further awards in conservation, livestock, diversification and a Best Crop award.
Limagrain UK received awards in two out of the three size classes within the Best Crop award, including the high-yielding Group 4 wheat LG Skyscraper in Class 1, grown by Roy Steward at A.C.C Green, Woodbridge.
“The Skyscraper looked well all year, was not overly thick and is a good all-round variety,” Mr Steward said.
Judge of the Class 1 competition, William Faulds, commented: “I have seen a number of very good-looking crops of wheat over the competition and in general. But, LG Skyscraper has particularly stood out, in both the first and second wheat scenarios that we judged.”
For the Class 3 farms, the Group 3 soft milling wheat, LG Astronomer, took the Best Crop award, grown by James Forrest at RH Forrest and Co, Stonham Aspal.
“It’s always very difficult to decide which is the best crop of wheat,” said Mr Forrest. “The LG Astronomer grew well and yielded well too, at over 11 t/ha. It was grown as a seed crop and we’re growing it again commercially this year. It also produced a decent sample at 80 kg/hl.”
The 2022 Suffolk Show President, David Barker MBE, said that in his opinion: “The farms reflect some of the best crops grown in the UK, and for two Limagrain-bred varieties to feature was a tribute to the remarkable plant breeding taking place at Woolpit in Suffolk.”