Mixed offering for winter wheat and barley growers

When it comes to Group 1 wheats, Crusoe and RGT Illustrious will again be the among the varieties preferred by millers seeking quality this coming season-with reasonably tight supplies in the marketplace.

But Skyfall remains the market leader among the milling wheats. It offers a very wide drilling window and resistance to orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM). That said, KWS Zyatt remains a popular choice despite the threat from yellow rust.

KWS Extase will remain the market leader in the Group 2 sector, while KWS Ultimatum from the same breeder offers potential for growers in the north of England.

There are no outstanding new feed wheat following the introduction of KWS Dawsum and Champion last year. But LG Redwald sets the new standard for yield. It has the highest yield potential on offer but needs careful and considered management by growers to utilise its significant capability.

Most other new arrivals offer little by way of advancement over the previous year. This means it may be a case of ‘better the devil you know’. Gleam remains remarkably consistent – and has not let anyone down yet. Graham remains popular in the west.

Growers looking for something new to consider in feed wheat should consider RGT Grouse. It offers new genetics to enable significant benefits in BYDV and OWBM management. It could be a serious contender.

Yield is king in the main pack of Group 4 wheats. One trials candidate worth noting is Bamford from Elsoms. It signals a step for-ward from previous options in this sector – and could have a big impact in autumn 2024 – offering decent yields, good grain quality and sound agronomics.

New genetics mean BYDV tolerant hybrid barley is for the first time commercially available in the guise of SY Harrier and SY Buzzard. Seed will be limited for this coming season with growers keen to capitalise on a step change in BYDV management in the hybrid sector.

The Hyvido market share is likely to continue to be circa 30%, although we will see a greater challenge from the conventional two-row barleys in the shape of both LG Caravelle and LG Capitol from Limagrain.

LG Caravelle has yield to match the best Hyvido varieties, and in the East outperforms both Hyvido and conventional barley. It also offers excellent grain quality. This will be backed up by the candidate variety LG Capitol, which offers similar if not slightly better yields.

Of the other varieties, KW Tardis will undoubtedly remain a popular choice, having taken the market by storm in autumn 2022.