- Born and bred in the UK, Pi Pinnacle was developed in the UK by independent plant breeder Mike Pickford
- Pinnacle is the Number 1 conventional variety Recommended by AHDB in 2024
Mike is proud and excited to see Pinnacle at the Number 1 position for conventional rape varieties across the country, East, West, and North. But he is no stranger to breeding varieties that reach the AHDB recommended list.
His background includes fifty golden years on and off plant breeding, starting with being head of breeding for Twyford seeds from 1973 to 1995. He then became a self-employed plant breeder initiating programmes in conjunction with RAGT France and Maisadour semences. Nowadays he works entirely as an independent breeder of conventional rape varieties. He points out that other breeders are breeding hybrids in Europe, but Mike is an enthusiast of conventional rapes for the UK.
Mike is the only remaining breeder in the UK focusing on conventionals. Based in the Cotswolds, his varieties are chosen for their performance under UK field conditions. “My philosophy of breeding is using a “Component analysis technique” for a high harvest Index. he says. His strategy is based on simple mathematics by selecting those varieties with a high number of pods, a high number of seeds per pod and large seeds, resulting in higher crop yields.”
“Pinnacle has on average about a 5% increase in yield components compared with some earlier varieties such as Elevation. It has an 8% increase in yield components over Campus, with more pods per plant, more seeds per pod and larger seeds. Pinnacle has seeds with a thousand grain weight between 6.5 to 7gms compared to Campus at 5 to 6 gms,” explains Mike.
He also looks for clean green stems when ripening allowing more efficient photosynthesis during the ripening grain filling process. Selected varieties remain green for longer, continuing to build yields at the end of the season.
Seed Manager for United Oilseeds, Beckii Gibbs commented: “We’re really pleased to have Pinnacle in the portfolio for 2024. Conventional varieties will always have a place in the OSR market and Mike has done a brilliant job of developing the No1 variety this year.”
Mike’s strategy has certainly been successful with Pi Pinnacle. On the AHDB recommended list 2024/2025, Pinnacle achieved a UK Gross output of 102%, 103% in the East and West and 101% in the North, outperforming all other conventionals such as Tom, Annika and Acacia.
Mike reports that he has some promising new varieties in the pipeline, based on Pinnacle’s background but with an additional 10% increase in components of yields which look to be exciting for the future.
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