- An aspiring agronomist is to examine the benefits of seed priming winter wheat using trials in the Harper Adams glasshouses as part of his final year research project
Harry Fletcher, 22, a BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management student from Admaston, will be carrying out the trials to find out whether the preparation method, which is already in use on a variety of other crops, can also be applied to winter wheat.
He said: “Seed priming is the process of soaking the seed to the point where it is just about ready to germinate, then starving it of moisture and storing it at a low temperature to pause germination.
“This then means that, when you drill the seed, it gains moisture and temperature and rockets.
“This creates a more uniform and better-established crop.”
Harry will be using the University glasshouses for his trial, where he plans to examine the growth and establishment of his primed winter wheat, comparing each to another set of unprimed plants.
He added: “From this I can see the direct benefit of the primed seed – and will then work out costings of failed crops and the cost incurred if crops had to be redrilled.
“I have chosen to research into this as it has been done for many years in lettuce and other vegetable crops.
“Recently, the UK’s first commercial primed oilseed rapeseed has just been released onto the market – so I want to find out whether it is economically beneficial to prime wheat seed, especially when farmers are faced with a drought drilling season.
“I believe that with climate change increasing year on year it is important to have these kinds of seeds available, to encourage establishment later in the drilling season when faced with scorching hot summers like the one we’ve just had.
While not from a farming background originally, Harry chose to study at Harper after hearing ‘great things’ about the University while studying Agriculture at college. He is now set to take up a trainee agronomist post with Frontier once he graduates later this year.
He added: “I will begin with Frontier this summer and will be based on home turf in Shropshire. I look forward to beginning my Basis training getting out in the real world.
“I was approached by Frontier about the position last summer after working for them around five years ago as a grain sampler, I strongly encourage anyone to take opportunities as they come because you never know what doors it may open.”
Harry also honed his skills during his industry placement year, where he worked on a a large diverse arable farm on the edge of London.
