Now the oldest wheat variety on the AHDB Recommended List, Crusoe has achieved 14 years in the market, while many other varieties have been and gone. But why has it proven so successful?

According to Essex farmer Richard Carr, it’s Crusoe’s reliable quality that’s helped it to stand the test of time. Having grown the variety for almost every year since its launch, he has half the farm’s 85ha of winter wheat down to Crusoe this time, alongside areas of Skyfall and SY Cheer.

“One of our biggest challenges farming in this area is the lack of rainfall, which means we struggle to achieve the really high yields that some new Group 4 varieties promise, despite being on strong wheat-growing ground,” explains Richard.

“That’s why we go for milling wheats; if yield is going to be compromised due to lack of rainfall, we’re better off going for a premium market instead.”

Making milling spec

In the 13 years he’s grown Crusoe, the variety has achieved milling specification every time, allowing him to build strong relationships with local buyers. “We have to be over 13% protein, but more often than not, it’s nearer to 14% or above, which in some years can earn us a small extra premium on top of the milling price if supplies are tight.”

Recent years have seen a move away from plough-based establishment to a minimal tillage approach at the farm, although Richard notes he remains flexible, with decisions made on a field-by-field basis. “We’ve invested in drainage which has made a big difference to soil health, crop uniformity, and has helped us to go down the min-till route. It also means we can usually get a head start for early applications of fertiliser and sprays in the spring.”

Disease threats

This is because he knows early yellow rust, and later brown rust, are both risks in Crusoe, but says the diseases are easy to manage providing they’re tackled early on. “We typically start by applying a good triazole at T0 to make sure crops are clean going into the main growing season, and maintain this protection with other chemistry at T1, T2, and T3.

“In high-pressure years, we might require an interim spray to cover the gap between T1 and T2, but decisions really depend on disease pressure and the season. We’ve found that if we can keep yellow rust out from the start, then Crusoe is quite good at growing away from it once adult plant resistance kicks in.”

Getting onto ground early is also important for crop nutrition, with Crusoe typically receiving four applications of nitrogen each season, totalling 210-220kgN/ha. The first is usually applied as urea in late February, followed by the main dose 3-4 weeks later, with the last ammonium nitrate plus sulphur going on in late April/early May.

Crops also receive a foliar nitrogen top-up at cheesy ripe stage, as well as other micronutrients and trace elements throughout the season.

“Magnesium deficiency is one of the main issues, as although soil levels are quite high, they’re prone to nutrient lockup, so we monitor crops with tissue testing and address with foliar treatments as necessary,” highlights Richard.

OWBM

Crusoe’s lack of orange wheat blossom midge resistance is Richard remains aware of, but says he’s not treated for the pest in the past five years. “Part of that might be due to the natural cycle of OWBM, or the fact that generally, farmers are now growing more midge resistant varieties.”

Crusoe generally holds onto its Hagberg well in seasons where harvest gets delayed due to the weather, adds Richard, affording some level of security and flexibility. This can be particularly beneficial considering the farm doesn’t have its own combine, but shares a hired machine with other neighbouring farms.

“Generally, if the weather is unsettled, we’ll prioritise combining the Skyfall first, as Hagbergs tend to drop quicker in that than in Crusoe. But one of our biggest stress relievers has been the recent investment in a 20t/hr continuous flow system for cleaning and drying grain, which has made harvest management a lot easier, and is a good insurance policy that means we can cut at 20% moisture if need-be.”

This coming season

Looking ahead to the coming autumn, Richard plans to continue growing a similar area of Crusoe, but will also try a small area of two other new Group 1 varieties. “At the moment, I can’t see any reason not to keep growing Crusoe. Any new varieties have got to prove themselves for both yield and quality before I make any significant changes,” he concludes.