20 June 2008
BREEDERS APPLAUD TURNAROUND

Plant breeders have welcomed recent buoyancy in the main arable markets. Royalties from increased sowings, especially of spring barley, have put an extra £4M into the industry, according to BSPB Chairman Thomas Jolliffe.

Welcoming the turnaround in breeders' fortunes, Dr Jolliffe said "It's good news and long overdue as our costs are continually rising."

The effects of better grain prices and zero set-aside had seen an 18% rise in orders with an extra 72,000t of certified seed from BSPB members being sold this season.

"UK Plc is clearly going to plough more back into plant breeding- let's hope it's a trend."

Last year's farm saved seed arrangements, brought in with NFU support to deter false declarations of royalty-bearing varieties as zero-rated ones, such as Riband and Hereward, was working well, he added. He estimated that evasion of payments, after the appointment of a full-time investigator and twice-yearly Fair Play campaign newsletters to an estimated 80% of growers, had fallen by 42% and 38% respectively, for winter wheat and winter barley.

Source: Farmers Weekly 20 June 2008