Conqueror

Exceptional Yields – Year on Year

At 106% of controls, Conqueror is the second highest yielding winter wheat on the UK Recommended List, standing proud alongside sister variety Oakley.

Like Oakley, Conqueror is a hard feed wheat, so there’s no need for segregation at storage.  Both have large, bright, non 1B1R grain, with good physical characteristics which easily suit all animal feed needs.

Outstanding Across All Situations

UK Recommended List trial results show that there is no higher yielding variety for most situations right the way across the UK.

As the charts show, it is certainly a match for Oakley and clearly outpaces JB Diego in every situation bar the West, wherever and whenever it is sown.

Conqueror is consistently able to cope with whatever is thrown at it. This includes wet years, drought years and late seasons.  It has never dropped  below 104% of controls over the last five years it has been in trial.

However, those looking for the ideal slot for Conqueror on farm will find it does particularly well in light land situations and late drilled.

On light land, Conqueror tillers well and appears to be drought tolerant.  Used in later drillings to follow sugar beet, potatoes and late vegetable crops, it has fast, early development maximising establishment in difficult conditions.

In NIAB’s late drilled trials series Conqueror produces a 112% yield, 3% ahead of any other variety.

Agronomics

Growers will find there are agronomic advantages from planting Conqueror compared to other hard feed wheats.

Conqueror’s yellow rust rating alleviates some of the issues now being experienced with established Group 4 leader, Oakley.

It has a stronger resistance rating to yellow rust which is especially evident at the mature plant stage.

This provides growers with an ideal complement to other varieties, enabling growers to focus on other varieties within their T2 spray window.

	Conqueror	Oakley
Mildew	4	6
Yellow rust	5	2
Brown rust	5	6
S. nodorum	[9]	7
S. tritici	4	5
Eyespot	5	4
Fusarium	6	5

 Data source:  HGCA Recommended List, 2011/12

In terms of standing ability, Conqueror and Oakley are remarkably similar.  Both are virtually the same height and have nearly identical straw strength ratings. Given the potential to produce very high yields, a routine PGR application is advisable.

Conqueror will, like Oakley, respond to the high input regimes that feed wheat growers are adept at delivering. Conqueror does develop a shade quicker than Oakley and also tillers strongly; these characteristics will need to be factored into spray timing decisions.

	Straw strength with PGR	Straw strength without PGR	Straw height without PGR (cm)
Conqueror	7	6	88
Oakley	7	7	87

Data source:  HGCA Recommended List, 2011/12

Conqueror is resistant to Orange Wheat Blossom Midge. The variety is unlikely to require a specific treatment, thereby providing added security, saving a spray operation and cutting pesticide inputs.

So, for hard feed wheat producers looking for very high outputs from a variety that responds, Conqueror will suit your needs and provide an agronomic balance across your farm.

Conqueror is tolerant to chlorotoluron.