Farmers Told Of Aims Of Wheat Testing

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30536, 3 September 1964, Page 22

Farmers Told Of Aims Of Wheat Testing

Objectives of the “minibake” test of milling wheat samples during the last harvest were outlined yesterday to the council of the Dominion agriculture section of Federated Farmers by the director of the Wheat Research Institute (Mr E. W. Hullett). One of the main objectives was to remove wheat that was not suitable for milling from lines designated for milling purposes, Mr Hullett said. Another was to cope with a disastrous season, such as harvests where there was a great deal of sprouting or many lines of bug wheat. Because the Institute could not be fully prepared for all the types of tests which might be required, the “mini-bake” test was designed to cover all possibilities with virtually no delay. Last season there were claims of delays in testing by the institute, but there had been no validated criticisms.

Till recently, the institute had refused to do pre-pur-chase tests on wheat samples because it would not have been able to cope with the requests. But last season it was realised that something had to be done when the millers asked for a test. “Had we refused to test this year and there had been unsuitable wheat In the millers’ lines our situation would have been untenable,” said Mr Hullett. With the equipment now Installed, the institute could handle up to 400 samples a day; and more if necessary,

Mr Hullett said he freely admitted there had been faults in the testing, especially with the difference in results when more than one test was taken on the same sample. However, he thought the tests were very important for detecting quality faults in bulk lines, and said they could also help to ensure the wheat was used for the purpose for which it was best suited, either for bread, biscuits, flour, or feed purposes. He thought that one of the best ways to improve bread quality was to improve the quality of the wheat being used. North Island wheat was the best-quality wheat in the country, he said. He thought it was even better than Australian wheat. “I am hopeful that one of the outcomes of testing wheat samples will be that farmers may learn how to improve the quality of their wheat,” Mr Hullett said.