Suffolk farming business increases KWS Dawsum area due to its resilience and performance
With the exceptionally challenging growing conditions of 2023 becoming an increasingly common occurrence for UK growers, the resilience and performance of KWS Dawsum winter wheat has more than impressed one Suffolk farming family.
KWS Dawsum performed so well for Suffolk growers H. H. Craske and Son during its first season of production that the area for sowing the variety this autumn has been increased by a third.
Despite the year’s very challenging growing conditions, yields held up well in harvest 2024 with KWS Dawsum’s strong agronomics being in clear evidence during the year, says Michael Craske.
“This was our first season with KWS Dawsum because the previous year we did not even consider the variety,” he explains.
“On reflection that was a mistake as its strong agronomic performance, high specific weight and yield make it an excellent choice.
“After a particularly challenging season, when up to 120mm of rain fell in just one month, the 2024 harvest has been significantly better than expected.
“We combined our 120ha of oilseed rape at the end of July and started the winter wheats on 5 August. KWS Dawsum was harvested in mid-August when the grain moisture was below 15%.
“Given the high cost of electricity and fuel not having to dry it represented a big saving, but the downside of the hot weather was that we will have to cool grain to a safe level for storage.
“Most of our KWS Dawsum was grown as a first wheat and yielded 9t/ha, but even in the second wheat slot it averaged 8.5t/ha with a specific weight of 79kg/hl.
“Overall, yields were slightly down on our long-term average but amazing considering the challenging weather for so much of the season.”
We have been very happy with KWS Dawsum in its first season and will be increasing the area from 75ha to 100ha for the 2025 harvest.
Impressive throughout the season
The variety impressed throughout the 2023 growing season, Michael Craske says.
“The cold, wet weather during the season meant that Septoria was an issue across all varieties. However, the disease pressure on KWS Dawsum was less than for some others because of its excellent yellow rust and brown rust resistance.
“The variety tillered strongly and covered the ground well, helping to suppress grass weeds. In early spring it seemed to hold back slightly then developed well, but without becoming too lush.
“The season was characterised by low sunlight levels, but we did get warm weather and sunshine when it was most needed just before harvest.”
The KWS Dawsum drilled as a first wheat followed beans at the end of September through an 8m Vaderstad Rapid drill pulled by a Caterpillar 845 on land which had been min-tilled using discs and a Kongskilde Vibro Flex heavy duty stubble cultivator, he recalls.
“The variety was also drilled as a second wheat at two different timings, into ploughed land during mid-October and at the end of November on land that was ploughed then and then immediately followed with a 4m KRM combination drill.
“Phosphate and Potash were applied according to recommendations from SOYL. All herbicides and fungicides went on at the correct timings through a 24m Sands Horizon sprayer, although the wet weather resulted in some deep tramlines.
“Nitrogen was applied in three splits, first wheats receiving 180kgN/ha, second wheats sown at conventional timings 200kgN/ha and late-sown crops 220kgN/ha.”
Established in 1951, the Craske family farming business is owned and managed by Michael and his brother James, with help from assistant manager Cathal Maguire and two full-time employees.
Farming adjoining land at Peyton Hall, Hadleigh and Barrards Hall, Whatfield, it encompasses 720 hectares of well-drained Hanslope-series and sandy clay loam soils.
Because Michael and James Craske like to know what they have in terms of quantity and quality before looking to sell, only a small amount is forward sold. Crops are marketed through Camgrain, Frontier, ABM, Fram Farmers and COFCO.
“High input costs are making farming an incredibly challenging occupation and you must be an optimist to do it,” Michael Craske says.
“I love every aspect of growing crops, from drilling the seed to harvesting the grain, so the various schemes which take land out of production go against my nature.
“We have been very happy with KWS Dawsum in its first season and will be increasing the area from 75ha to 100ha for the 2025 harvest.”
The complete package
Launched in 2022, KWS Dawsum quickly became the UK’s most popular high yielding hard G4 wheat, taking 15% of UK wheat sales in 2022/23, which increased to 20% for 2023/24, explains KWS’ Dr. Kirsty Richards.
“With strong genetics and no obvious weaknesses KWS Dawsum is the complete package.
“Offering ultimate flexibility on farm and fantastic yields right across the rotation, it delivers stellar performance, with consistently high yield potential across all regions of the UK and right across the rotation.
“KWS Dawsum’s excellent agronomic package includes a 9 rating for yellow rust, 8 for mildew, 7 for brown rust and fusarium, with 6.3 for Septoria. It scores 7 for resistance to lodging, both with and without PGR.
“In seasons when specific weights come under pressure and the risk for claims is high, its exceptional specific weight of 79.9 kg/hl, one of the highest on the market, provides added security.
“With a Hagberg Falling Number of 299, the variety has a protein content of 10.8%, the variety is accepted by UKFM as a Group 4 in their intake."
An excellent Group 4 barn filler, KWS Dawsum is on the 2024/25 AHDB Recommended List with a treated yield of 103% for the UK and in the East, rising to 104% in the West and 105% for the North, she adds.
“But those figures only tell part of the story. Its early sown yield is joint highest at 106%, while in both the mainstream and late sown slots it achieves 103%, with a joint-highest untreated yield of 91%.
“The variety’s lack of yield penalty when later drilled is very unusual for one with such potential and it will be of real benefit on many farms, especially those in the North of England and Scotland, particularly in view of increasingly variable growing conditions.”
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