Saffron

Saffron provides very high yields from an agronomically secure variety.  Widely planted and well liked on farm, it is grown by those who have come to appreciate its year-on-year consistency.

Saffron is now the highest yielding of all control varieties and on a par with conventional 6-row variety Sequel and, because of its high specific weight, Saffron possesses none of the screening issues of some other two-row feeds such as Retriever.

Quite simply, Saffron is very easy to grow. With gooddisease resistance and good straw characteristics, it produces high yields of bold, bright grain.

Short, Stiff Straw

Saffron is a medium height, stiff strawed variety. This gives security in the field, with only a simple PGR programme being required.

A free tillering variety, Saffron produces an abundance of good ears all of which produce bold grain.

This high tillering characteristic also means that Saffron is a forgiving variety with the ability to recover from thin or gappy stands, later drilling or poor establishment.

Saffron performs well on all soil types and can be sown from mid-September onwards. Winter hardiness is good. Saffron has medium maturity similar to Pearl.

Excellent Net Blotch Resistance

Saffron offers excellent resistance to net blotch.  However, keep an eye out for mildew as specific control may be needed in some seasons and situations.

	Saffron
Mildew	3
Yellow rust	7
Brown rust	7
Rhynchosporium	4
Net blotch	8

Data source:  HGCA Recommended List, 2011/12

Like all feed barley varieties, a reasonably robust fungicide input is recommended to exploit Saffron’s very high yield potential.

Saffron is tolerant to chlorotoluron.