SPROUT DAMAGE IN WHEAT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 21

SPROUT DAMAGE IN WHEAT

Major Work Of Institute Hagberg testing of the 1961 wheat crop for sprout damage was the major effort by the Wheat Research Institute for the first months of this year, the institute’s director (Mr E. W. Hullett) said yesterday. Speaking at a meeting of the Wheat Research Committee he said warm rains in the second half of January caused widespread sprouting Large-scale testing started on February 6 after a request by the flourmillers’ society Samples were sent to the institute by merchants and the results were reported to them by telephone, he said. Results and samples were then sent to the mills. Local offices of the Department of Agriculture helped in relaying results and local knowledge of departmental officers had been most helpful, he said. Results of the tests had been summarised in a bulletin for millers. “The season has brought opportunity to extend our knowledge about sprouted wheat and its use. "Trials and experience in bakeries have shown that provided bakers take precautions a higher degree of sprout damage can be tolerated during bread slicing than had been expected,” he added.