Over 30 growers reviewed the current season's trial work at a Field Day held each November. The plant breeding program, and various herbicide and fungicide trials are discussed.

Our plant breeding site includes hundreds of lines which are produced by a hybridisation program. The resulting lines are evaluated for their alkaloid production, in order to identify lines for commercial use.

Numerous chemicals are evaluated each season, in an attempt to identify suitable treatments for use on the crop.

Trials are also conducted on a range of drilling techniques, soil moisture monitoring, frost protection, and a range of new fertiliser combinations.


The objectives of the Research Department are to:

• increase crop yield
• increase crop reliability, and
• reduce production costs
  

The materials and techniques identified by our Research department provide GSK growers with the most advanced poppy-growing technology in the World, and ensures that the industry remains a competitive and viable operation for growers and for the company.

GSK has a number of "Performance Matters" information sheets available to growers.

These sheets cover a range of topics, as outlined below:

• Critical Factors in Poppy Production
• Grower Guidelines and Responsibilities
• Control of Wild Poppies
• Control of Regrowth Poppies
• Bugs and Slugs
• Nitrogen for Poppy Production
• Risky Herbicides
  Do's and Don'ts of Herbicide Application
• Control of Downy Mildew
• The Formula for Success
  
  

Ask your GSK Field Officer or contact our office, for a copy of any of these information sheets