Winter wheat recommended and candidate lists

RL winter wheat harvest results almost complete with average yield sliding further

• Fungicide-treated yields from 26 trials show an average yield of controls of 9.56 t/ha, which is 1.43 t/ha below the five-year average
• Fungicide-untreated yields from eight trials are now available, with average yield of the controls of 7.44 t/ha, which is 1.22 t/ha below the five-year average
• Grain quality is generally good, with the exception of some late harvested Scottish trials

Further harvest results for AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) winter wheat trials are reported today (3^rd September 2026).

New fungicide-treated results are reported from Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Midlothian and Aberdeenshire. The average yield of control varieties is now 9.56 t/ha, 1.43 t/ha below the five-year average of 10.99 t/ha. The new trials in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire are especially low yielding and have dragged the average down further since the last update. Three further trials were abandoned for technical reasons, with the last three trials still being validated.

Two additional fungicide-untreated trials have also reported, from Midlothian and Shropshire, since the last update, with the average of the controls declining to just 7.44 t/ha, well below the five year average of 8.66 t/ha. The Shropshire trial was particularly low yielding with high levels of both yellow and brown rust in susceptible varieties. One trial was abandoned, with the remaining two still being validated.

Calculating yield results

Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2026 they are Skyfall, KWS Extase, LG Skyscraper, Bamford and Champion. The yield average from these varieties is represented as 100%.

2026 results

Almost all of the 30 fungicide-treated trials (and 3 late sown trials) and 11 fungicide-untreated trials have now either reported or been abandoned, and with trials from across the UK now in, these results should provide a good view of performance in 2026. Relative yields and variety ranking are unlikely to change significantly now so while the results are not final, we can have high confidence in them, particularly the fungicide-treated trials.

Fungicide-treated trials

With the dataset for 2026 nearly complete differences between varieties at the top have narrowed. The highest-yielding variety remains the newly recommended hard group 4 variety KWS Aintree on 108%, still ahead of the hard group 4 variety KWS Scope on 106%, well above its five-year average. Newly recommended RGT Guardsman, which has a specific recommendation for resistance to BYDV is performing well on 104%, along with the newly recommended hard group 4 LG Defiance, which is below its five-year average. Newly recommended hard group 4s KWS Fowlmere and LG Challenger are on 103% along with Champion, all three just below their five-year averages.

LG Redwald is the highest yielding of the soft group 4s on 104%, with newly recommended Sparkler also on 104%. Other soft group 4s are having mixed fortunes. Blackstone is above its five-year average on 101%, KWS Zealum, recommended only for the north region is on 100% and RGT Hexton is on 99%, below its five-year average.

The other group 4 varieties are performing fairly close to their five-year averages. With Graham, SY Insitor and KWS Dawsum on 102%, LG Beowulf on 101%, with LG Typhoon down on 95%.

The soft UKFM soft Group 3 varieties are led by northern recommendation KWS Flute, on 104%, with KWS Solitaire on 103% and Bamford on 102%.

In the bread making groups KWS Arnie is the highest yielding UKFM Group 2 on 102%, with newly recommended KWS Grebe, KWS Extase and East/West variety Equipe all on 100%. KWS Palladium is just behind these on 99%, with RGT Goldfinch which has a specific recommendation for resistance to BYDV on 89%.  All close to their five-year averages.

KWS Vibe is the highest yielding UKFM Group 1 variety on 98%, above its five-year average, with newly recommended UKFM Group 1 variety Arlington on 96% along with SY Cheer and Skyfall. Crusoe is on 94%.  

Fungicide-untreated trials

The two new trials had significant levels of yellow rust and this has produced some very large yield differences between varieties and changed the ranking of varieties for 2026.

The highest yielding variety is now the newly recommended hard group 4 variety LG Defiance on 126%. Newly recommended hard group 4 RGT Guardsman, which has a specific recommendation for resistance to BYDV, has slipped back to 120%, with a poor performance in the new Scottish trial. Newly recommended LG challenger is on 116% and Graham on 115%. Newly recommended hard group 4 variety KWS Fowlmere is on 105%, with newly recommended KWS Aintree slipping to 69%, with the yellow rust in these two new trials having a significant impact. KWS Scope, which has done well in the treated trials is on 101%, a little below its five-year average. With KWS Dawsum (85%), LG Beowulf, (81%), LG Typhoon (78%) and Champion (70%), showing the impact of the Yr15 virulent yellow rust race on susceptible varieties, where it is not controlled.

KWS Zealum, recommended for the north, is now highest yielding of the soft group 4 varieties on 115%, well above its five-year average. LG Redwald is on 109%, with newly recommended Sparkler on 108%. RGT Hexton is on 107% well above its five-year average, with Blackstone on 87%, well below its five-year average.

In the bread making UKFM Group 2s the new trials have pushed average yields up, with KWS Equipe highest yielding on 125%, with KWS Extase on 123% and KWS Arnie on 120%. RGT Goldfinch, which has a specific recommendation for resistance to BYDV is on 115%. Newly recommended KWS Grebe is on 105%, with KWS Palladium on 103%.

In the UKFM Group 1s newly recommended variety Arlington is highest yielding on 118%, with KWS Vibe just behind on 117%, with Skyfall and Crusoe 101% and SY Cheer on 95%, someway behind.

Five-year averages

Fungicide-treated trials

The 2026 results show yields based on one season. The five-year average is a better measure of variety performance over seasons and gives an indication of which candidate varieties are likely to be recommended in November. Despite the dry conditions in 2026, fungicide-treated over-year results largely reflect the current RL.

Newly recommended hard group 4 variety KWS Aintree is highest yielding on 108%, followed by newly recommended LG Defiance on 106% and newly recommended varieties LG Challenger and KWS Fowlmere, KWS Scope and Champion all on 104%. LG Beowulf is a little further back on 102%, along with SY Insitor. With Graham on 101% and KWS Dawsum on 100%.

In the soft group 4 varieties, newly recommended Sparkler and LG Redwald are on 104%. With RGT Hexton on 101%. KWS Zealum, recommended only for the North is on 100%. Though doing notably better in the Scottish trials.

In the UKFM Group 3 varieties, KWS Solitaire is highest yielding on 104% with Bamford and KWS Flute on 103%.

KWS Arnie tops the UKFM Group 2 varieties on 103%, followed by the newly recommended KWS Grebe on 101%. KWS Extase is on 100%, alongside KWS Equipe. The newly recommended Arlington is top in the UKFM Group 1 varieties on 97%, followed by KWS Vibe on 96% SY Cheer on 95%, Skyfall on 94% and Crusoe on 93%.

Newly recommended hard group 4 variety RGT Guardsman, which has a specific recommendation for resistance to BYDV is on 102%.

Fungicide-untreated trials

While 2025 and 2026 have been dominated by yellow rust epidemics, the five year fungicide-untreated data includes years when other diseases were more widespread, giving a more rounded view of varieties.

Highest yielding in this dataset is the newly recommended hard Group 4 LG Defiance, on 118%, with the newly recommended UKFM Group 1 variety Arlington on 116%. Newly recommended hard group 4 LG Challenger is on 114% along with UKFM Group 2 variety KWS Equipe, which his recommended only for the East and West.

A number of other bread making varieties are performing well in these trials, with Group 1 variety KWS Vibe and UKFM group 2 variety RGT Guardsman, which has a specific recommendation for resistance to BYDV and KWS Arnie on 110%.

LG Redwald is the highest yielding soft group 4 on 109%, with newly recommended soft group 4 Sparkler on 107%, with RGT Hexton on 103% and KWS Zealum, recommended only for the North on 102%.

Newly recommended hard group 4 variety KWS Fowlmere is on 108% with newly recommended hard group 4 variety KWS Aintree is on 97%.

Varieties that are susceptible to the new race of yellow rust, which is virulent against the Yr15 gene, have suffered over the last two years.  Champion (94%), LG Beowulf (96%) and LG Typhoon (96%) are notable in this regard.

2026 Candidates

The five-year averages are the best measure for assessing the potential of candidates and suggest likely additions to this year’s RL, though when they are considered for recommendation their overall balance of features including grain quality, agronomic characteristics and disease resistance will be considered in addition to yield.

Data can only be shown for varieties that have been added to the GB and NI Variety List (VL). Four candidates have not yet been listed.

Potential bread making varieties

The potential bread making candidate KWS Voyage has the highest yield in fungicide-treated trials on 108% of controls, reaching 110% in 2026. Though its fungicide-untreated yield of only 102% and 91% in 2026 may limit its popularity. LG Windmill, also a potential bread making variety, is on 101% and 104% in fungicide-untreated trials. Gibson from Senova with bread making potential is also on 101% and is the highest yielding candidate with bread making potential in fungicide-untreated trials on 118%. KWS Melesie is the final candidate with bread making potential and is on 100% in fungicide-treated trials and 115% in fungicide-untreated trials.

The decision on whether these varieties meet the specifications for bread making will be made by UKFM in time for them to be considered for adding to the recommended list in November.

Potential biscuit making varieties

Sunspire from Elsoms has the highest yield potential for a biscuit-making candidate in fungicide-treated trials, on 104%, with a fungicide-untreated figure of 115%. LG Spear is on 103% and Lucifer from Elsoms is on 102% in fungicide-treated trials, but LG Spear is higher yielding in fungicide-untreated trials at 118%, with Lucifer on 106%. Again the decision on whether these varieties meet the specifications for biscuit making will be made by UKFM when quality testing of the 2026 crop is completed.

Feed varieties

The highest yielding group 4 feed candidate in fungicide-treated trials is the hard feed candidate KWS Checkmate on 106%, which also has the highest yield of any candidate variety in fungicide-untreated trials at 128%. Soft group 4 variety NOS Beast is on 105% in fungicide-treated trials, with a fungicide-untreated yield of 120%.  

The hard feed candidate Percy from KWS is on 104% in fungicide-treated trials and 108% in fungicide-untreated trails. Bastion from Agrovista is also on 104% in fungicide-treated trials and is on 116% in fungicide-untreated.

Other hard feed candidates are RGT Kraken and Girton from Senova on 103% and Bluebird from Elsoms, RGT Griffin and Dreadnought from Elsoms all on 102% in the fungicide-treated trials. With RGT Griffin highest yielding of these in the fungicide untreated trials on 120% followed by Dreadnought on 114%, Girton on 113% and RGT Kraken on 108%.

Soft feed candidates SY Mirage on 104% and RGT Hydra on 103% in fungicide-treated trials are just behind NOS Beast.  But SY Mirage on 115% and RGT Hydra on 111% are some way behind in fungicide-untreated trials.

Further information

Access the full trial results 

AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) trials test variety performance under optimum conditions. Care should be taken when making comparisons with commercial yields. Results from individual trial sites should not be used to make conclusions on variety performance. The RL publications are based on information from trials across the UK over several seasons. As more information becomes available from the current harvest, this will contribute to the over-trials averages – which comprise four years for oilseeds and five years for cereals. These averages provide better information for comparison between varieties. Performance variation is not the responsibility of AHDB. Since the focus is to test new varieties, not all RL varieties are presented. Yields for well-established varieties are published at ahdb.org.uk/rl