Search our website enhanced by Google.
- Home
- Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) harvest results commentary
Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) harvest results commentary
The AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) publication provides information on yield and quality performance, agronomic features and market options to assist with variety selection.
AHDB Recommended Lists home page
- This page will feature the latest RL harvest results commentary for the current harvest year (2022/23)
- Commentary is added following the publication of a sufficient number of trial results (typically a minimum of three trials for each crop)
Wheat commentary
Winter wheat
Access the harvest results data
Winter wheat RL harvest results complete with both fungicide-treated and fungicide-untreated yields below average
All of the AHDB Recommended List fungicide-treated winter wheat trials have now reported and been verified. Average yield of the control varieties has ranged from 7.99 t/ha on a site with thin stoney soils in Lincolnshire, through to 13.34 t/ha on a medium soil site in Suffolk. Overall however, average yields were down on the five-year average of 11.04 t/ha, at just 10.78 t/ha.
All of the valid fungicide-untreated trials have also reported, though four were rejected due to excessive variability in trial. The lowest yield was in Devon, with controls yielding 7.33 t/ha on average, through to 10.27 t/ha in a trial in Hampshire. The average yield of the controls in these trials is 8.65 t/ha, just below the five-year average of 8.77 t/ha.
There has been no further quality data added, with low Hagberg Falling Numbers and low protein levels being characteristic of not just the RL trials but commercial crops this year, though specific weight has not been affected by this poor summer weather, with values as expected.
Calculating yield results
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2023 they are Skyfall, KWS Extase, KWS Barrel, LG Skyscraper and Gleam. The yield average from these varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 results
The Group 4 (hard) varieties have finished top on fungicide-treated yield, with Champion and SY Insitor both finishing on 106% of controls, with SY Insitor having had a very good year, 2% above its five-year average. Also above their five-year average are the third highest yielding varieties, newly recommended variety for the East and West Oxford (105%) and KWS Dawsum (104%), with Gleam and KWS Cranium on 103%. Other hard Group 4s have finished in line with their five-year average, except RGT Wolverine, which has finished on 100%, just above its five-year average.
In the soft Group 4s, newly recommended for the East and West variety LG Redwald ended highest yielding on 104%, though this is 2% below its five-year average. Newly recommended for the North variety KWS Zealum is the second highest yielding soft Group 4 variety, alongside RGT Bairstow on 102%. Skyscraper has had a disappointing year, finishing on 100%, 2% below its five-year average. The other soft Group 4s have also performed below their five-year average, with RGT Saki (97%) and Swallow (93%) especially disappointing.
The quality Group 3 wheats have all performed just below their five-year averages in 2023. KWS Guium, LG Prince, KWS Brium and RGT Rashid, along with newly recommended variety RGT Wilkinson, have all finished on 99%, with Merit on 98% and LG Astronomer, KWS Barrel and LG Illuminate all on 96%.
The Group 1 bread-milling varieties have had a better 2023, performing at or a little above their five-year average, probably reflecting the relatively low rust pressure this year. KWS Zyatt is highest yielding on 99% with Skyfall above its five-year average on 98%. Crusoe and RGT Illustrious are both on 96% just above their five-year average, with Crusoe producing the highest average protein in this low protein year.
In the Group 2 varieties KWS Extase has finished highest yielding on 102%, above its five-year average, with the other group 2 varieties on their five-year averages, with newly recommended KWS Ultimatum second highest yielding on 101% with KWS Palladium on 100% and Mayflower on 97%.
In the fungicide-untreated trials the highest yielding variety for 2023 is the newly recommended hard Group 4 variety for the East and West, Oxford (117%) well above its five-year average, mirroring its good performance in the fungicide-treated trials. Second highest yielding is the Group 2 variety Mayflower (116%), with hard Group 4 varieties Champion (114%), and KWS Dawsum (113%) also yielding well in these trials, though KWS Dawsum is below its five-year average. The other Group 2 varieties have yielded a little below their five-year averages, with KWS Palladium on 113%, KWS Extase on 112% and KWS Ultimatum on 111%, though all are amongst the highest yielding varieties in these trials.
A number of varieties have performed well above their five-year averages in the fungicide-untreated trials, notably RGT Wolverine (99%), Skyfall (92%) and KWS Zyatt (95%) who’s weakness against yellow rust has not been such an issue this year. Equally some varieties have performed well below their five-year averages, notably RGT Saki (97%), LG Skyscraper (100%) LG Illuminate (100%) and LG Astronomer (103%).
Five-year averages
The 2023 results show yields based on one season. The five-year average is a better measure of variety performance over seasons. Despite the unusual conditions in 2023 these results largely reflect the current RL.
Highest yielding varieties in the fungicide-treated trials are the hard Group 4 variety Champion and newly recommended for the East and West soft Group 4 variety LG Redwald (106%). Just behind these is the hard Group 4 variety SY Insitor and newly recommended for the East and West hard Group 4 variety Oxford on 104%. KWS Dawsum and Gleam are on 103%. Newly recommended for the North soft Group 4 variety KWS Zealum is on 102%, along with soft Group 4 varieties RGT Bairstow and LG Skyscraper and hard Group 4 varieties KWS Cranium and Graham.
In the Group 3 quality wheats KWS Guium, newly recommended RGT Wilkinson, LG Prince and KWS Brium are all on 100%. KWS Extase and newly recommended KWS Ultimatum are highest yielding Group 2s (101%), with KWS Palladium on 100% and Mayflower on 97%. In the Group 1s KWS Zyatt is highest yielding (99%), with Skyfall second (96%).
In the fungicide-untreated trials KWS Extase remains highest yielding (117%) despite a poorer performance in 2023. KWS Dawsum is second highest yielding (115%), with Mayflower and KWS Palladium on 114%. Champion and KWS Ultimatum are on 113%, with Graham, LG Redwald and LG Typhoon on 112%. At the other end of the scale the low yielding varieties are those with well know weaknesses, Crusoe (94%), KWS Barrel (94%) RGT Wolverine (90%), KWS Zyatt, (89%) and Skyfall (83%) .
2023 Candidates
The five-year averages are the best measure for assessing the potential of the candidates over multiple seasons and suggest likely additions to this years RL, however data can only be shown for varieties that have completed National Listing.
In the fungicide-treated trials, the LG Beowulf (106%) and Bolinder (104%) are highest yielding hard feed candidates. LG Beowulf is also doing well in the fungicide-untreated trials (115%), with Bolinder some way behind on 110%. LG Redrum is just behind these on fungicide-treated yield (103%) and 111% in the fungicide-untreated trials. Soft Group 4 variety Blackstone is also on 103% in the fungicide-treated trials and is on 109% in the fungicide-untreated trials.
Potential bread-making varieties are KWS Dragum (102% treated, 108% untreated) and SY Cheer (97% treated, 106% untreated). Potential Group 3 varieties are Bamford, yielding very well, on 106% in the fungicide-treated and 115% in the fungicide-untreated. Almara is on 99% in the fungicide-treated trials (109% untreated), but has done better in northern trials. Meanwhile LG Arkle (102%) and LG Grendel (101%) seem too prone to lodging to get a recommendation.
Further information
Access the full trial results here.
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
Winter wheat (early sown)
Access the harvest results data
Early sown winter wheat RL trials deliver good yields in 2023
The full set of Recommended Lists (RL) Harvest Results for the early sown winter wheat trials (sowing date 25 August–25 September) has been published.
This sub-set of first wheat trials includes only varieties that breeders consider suitable for early drilling, plus controls. They are grown to the standard RL fungicide and PGR programme.
As early sowing has declined in Southern and Eastern England, largely in response to black-grass pressures, most trials have been moved northwards, where early sowing is still common in commercial practice. One trial has been retained in Cambridgeshire.
The average yield of the controls in 2023 is 11.80 t/ha, well above the five-year average (11.39 t/ha), with all but one low yielding trial in Midlothian above the five-year average.
Calculating yield results
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. The yield controls for the early sown series are the same as for the main trial series. The varieties for 2023 are Skyfall, KWS Extase, KWS Barrel, LG Skyscraper and Gleam. The yield average from these varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 results
The highest yielding varieties in the 2023 series are the hard Group 4 feed varieties Champion (109%) well ahead of the newly recommended variety for the East and West, Oxford (104%) and the newly recommended for the North soft Group 4 variety KWS Zealum (104%). Just behind these on 103% are the hard group 4 varieties KWS Dawsum and Gleam.
In the quality milling wheats the two Group 2 varieties in these trials, KWS Extase and Mayflower are both on 101%, with the only Group 1 in the series, Skyfall, on 97%. Merit is the highest yielding of the Group 3 biscuit-making varieties on 101%, with newly recommended RGT Wilkinson and KWS Brium on 99%.
Five-year average
The five-year average is a better measure of variety performance over seasons, particularly given the small number of trials in this early sown series. Champion is again highest yielding (107%), with KWS Dawsum next highest yielding (106%) followed by newly recommended for the North, soft Group 4 variety KWS Zealum (105%) newly recommended variety for the East and West, Oxford (104%) and Gleam (103%).
Group 3 biscuit-making variety LG Illuminate tops the milling wheats (101%), despite a poor 2023, alongside newly recommended RGT Wilkinson also on 101%. The two Group 2 bread-making varieties KWS Extase and Mayflower are also on 101%.
2023 Candidates
Judging the potential of the candidate varieties for early sowing yield is tricky as it is a small dataset. Therefore results should be treated with caution.
Hard Group 4 feed variety Bolinder shows promise in this early drilled slot with a yield of 108% of controls in the five-year averages, beating the best of the recommended varieties. Hard Group 4 feed variety LG Beowulf is on 104% and soft Group 4 feed variety Blackstone is on 103%.
The two candidate milling varieties in these trials are both biscuit-making varieties, Bamford (104%) and LG Grendel (103%). However, LG Grendel has shown high levels of lodging in the main trial series, so may not be suitable for this early drilling slot.
Further information
Access full trial results via the AHDB website: ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults
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
Spring wheat
Access the harvest results data
Recommended List spring wheat trials record average yields in 2023
Harvest Results are now available from four fungicide-treated RL spring wheat trial sites – Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and North Yorkshire. Two further trials in Lincolnshire were rejected due to excessive variability in the trial.
The average yield of control varieties is 7.14 t/ha, just above the five-year average of 7.11 t/ha. The highest yielding trial was in Suffolk (8.16 t/ha) and the lowest in Norfolk (5.86 t/ha).
Calculating yield results
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2023, the control varieties are Mulika (Group 1), KWS Cochise (Group 2) and Hexham (Group 4). The yield average from these varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 results
With such a small number of trials in 2023 there needs to be some caution exercised in comparisons between varieties. Having said that, the highest yielding variety in 2023 was the newly recommended UKFM Group 2 variety KWS Alicium (107%) followed by the potential bread making candidate WPB Mylo (105%) and the Group 4 variety Hexham (104%).
Five-year average
The five-year average is a better measure of variety performance, especially in this relatively variable crop.
On this basis, Group 4 variety KWS Fixum is highest yielding at 106% of controls, ahead of newly recommended UKFM Group 2 variety KWS Alicium (105%) and Group 4 variety Hexham (104%). The potential bread-making candidate WPB Mylo is on 103% and it seems to have good straw strength, with little lodging. However, grain quality in 2023 was a little lower than might be hoped, especially specific weight and it will be up to UKFM to decide on its final grouping. Newly recommended UKFM Group 1 variety KWS Harsum is on 102%, with good specific weight and Hagberg Falling Number, but slightly lower protein with newly recommended UKFM Group 2 variety KWS Lightum on 101%, with good grain quality. Also on 101% are UKFM Group 1 variety KWS Ladum and UKFM Group 2 variety KWS Cochise.
Mulika is lowest yielding, on 95%, along with fellow UKFM Group 1 variety Nissaba, though Mulika’s excellent grain quality has again been shown in 2023.
Further information
Access full trial results via the AHDB website: ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults
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
AHDB
Barley commentary
Winter barley
Access the harvest results data
Winter barley RL harvest results deliver a positive start to harvest 2023
With 13 of the 16 fungicide-treated AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) winter barley trials and five of the seven fungicide-untreated trials having reported, we can now get a good view of variety performance in 2023.
Overall it continues to be a good year for winter barley yields, with the 2023 control mean of the fungicide-treated trials at 10.15 t/ha, well above the five year average of 9.76 t/ha and the mean of the fungicide untreated trials at 8.83 t/ha, again well above the five-year average of 8.03 t/ha. The weather has provided a severe test of straw strength though and we have seen of lodging in a number of trials.
Control varieties
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2023, the control varieties comprise two malting varieties, Craft and Electrum, the two-row feed variety KWS Tardis, the six-row hybrid variety SY Kingsbarn and the six-row conventional variety KWS Feeris. The average of the yields from these varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 averages
In the fungicide-treated trials the six-row hybrid varieties are dominating the yield rankings this season, with SY Kingsbarn leading (110%), well above its five-year average, followed by SY Thunderbolt (108%) with Belfry, SY Kingston and SY Canyon all on 106%. Newly recommended SY Nephin and Bazooka are just behind on (105%).
Lightning (105%) has had a strong season in 2023 and leads the two-row varieties in fungicide-treated yield. The newly recommended two-row variety LG Caravelle is just behind on 104%, with KWS Tardis on 103%. Newly recommended two-row Bolivia (101%) has had a disappointing 2023 and is 2% below its five-year average. Also struggling in 2023 is BYDV tolerant six-row conventional variety KWS Feeris (99%) also below its five-year average.
Two-row malting varieties are performing close to their five year averages in 2023, with Electrum on 97%, Craft on 91% and the newly recommended variety Buccaneer at 98%. As Buccaneer is still under test for malting growers should speak to merchants about markets before committing to the variety.
Fungicide-untreated yields
The newly recommended six-row hybrid variety SY Nephin was recommended on the basis of its good disease resistance and it leads the 2023 untreated yields (115%) performing especially well at the northern sites. Other six-row hybrids doing well in the fungicide-untreated trials are SY Canyon (111%) and SY Thunderbolt (108%).
Two-row conventional varieties LG Caravelle and Lightning are both performing well in these trials on 111%, with LG Dazzle the next highest yielding of the two-rows on 106%. Newly recommended malting variety Buccaneer has performed well in the untreated trials (105%) well ahead of both Craft (97%) and Electrum (101%).
2019–23 (five-year) averages
The five-year average values (2019–23) provide a better representation of performance across seasons.
The six-row hybrids SY Thunderbolt (107%), SY Kingsbarn (107%), SY Kingston (106%) and SY Canyon (106%) are the highest yielding varieties in the fungicide-treated trials. However, the two-row variety LG Caravelle (106%) continues to show yield potential at a similar level, with Lightening (104%) and Bolivia, KWS Tardis and Bolton (103%) the next highest yielding of the two-rows.
In the untreated trials six-row hybrids SY Nephin (112%) and SY Canyon (111%) are highest yielding, though Lightening (109%) and newly recommended varieties LG Caravelle (110%) and Bolivia (108%) are just behind these.
Candidate varieties
Data can only be reported for candidate varieties that have completed National Listing. The 2019–23 averages are the best measure of these new varieties.
In the fungicide-treated trials, six-row hybrid variety SY Loona (108%) is the highest yielding of the candidates and has had a good 2023 (110%). Two-row feed variety LG Capitol (106%) is the best of the two-rows, with Resolute (104%) and Valiant (103%) a little behind.
Valvira (102%) is a six-row conventional variety that carries the BYDV tolerance trait, as does six-row hybrid variety SY Buzzard (102%) and these will no doubt be of interest to some growers, despite the small yield penalty in the absence of BYDV and lower untreated yields (96% and 100% respectively).
Two-row feed variety Aleksandra is only yielding 101% in the fungicide-treated trials but is on 117% in the fungicide-untreated trials, well ahead of any other candidate or recommended variety. It does look to be prone to lodging, though no more so than some of the six-row hybrids and it does have a very high specific weight.
Six-row hybrid SY Loona is the second highest yielding candidate in the fungicide-untreated trials (112%), with two-row feed varieties LG Capitol and Resolute on both on 108% in these trials.
With most trial results in there is now likely to be little change in the variety ranking with the additional trials sites and a small change to percentage yields in most cases.
Further information
Access full trial results here
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
Spring barley
Access the harvest results data
Spring barley Recommended List harvest results - update
Previous spring barley harvest results reports have excluded data from the variety SY Tennyson. Seed supplied for RL trials in 2023 had high levels of seed borne net blotch. This resulted in high levels of disease in some trials.
It was initially decided to exclude the result for SY Tennyson; however, the RL Project Board have reviewed this decision and decided the data should be included. This update now includes results from SY Tennyson.
Several of the newly recommended malting varieties have also been reclassified after consideration by the MBC and will be reviewed by the RL Barley, Oats and other Cereals Crop committee as feed varieties. These changes of status are also reflected in this update.
Yield of the control varieties has not changed and remains 7.43 t/ha in the fungicide-treated trials, well below the five-year average of 7.83 t/ha. Average yield of the controls in the fungicide-untreated trials is also unchanged at 6.70 t/ha, again well below the five-year average of 7.01 t/ha.
Yield calculation
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2023, the control varieties comprise five malting varieties, RGT Planet, Laureate, LG Diablo, Firefoxx and Skyway. The average of the yields from the control varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 averages
Three varieties have finished on 103% of controls in the fungicide-treated trials, newly recommended malting variety SY Signet, Firefoxx and the newly recommended feed variety Hurler. SY Signet and Firefoxx having outperformed their five-year average in this difficult year. Sitting just behind these on 102% is Laureate, with a group of newly recommended varieties; Diviner, still under test for malting, and Sun King, Florence and KWS Curtis, now all re-classified as feed varieties on 101%, along with Skyway. SY Tennyson is at 97%, five percent below its five-year average, with the seed borne net blotch likely to be responsible for at least some of this deficit. All these varieties except KWS Curtis have underperformed their five-year average in 2023. The other recommended varieties have all finished within one percent of their five-year average.
In the fungicide-untreated trials Sun King now reclassified as a feed variety has finished as the top performer in 2023 at 109% of controls, well above its five-year average. Laureate is second highest yielding on 106% also well above its five-year average, with reclassified feed variety Florence on 104% and malting variety Diviner on 102%. Newly recommended feed variety Hurler is on 101% along with Firefoxx and the described null-lox variety CB score. Other newly recommended varieties are reclassified feed variety KWS Curtis on 100% and SY Signet, on 99%, some way behind its five-year average. SY Tennyson has finished on 94% in these trials again well below its five-year average.
Five-year averages
The five-year average values provide a better representation of performance across seasons, especially for candidates.
On this measure, the newly recommended feed variety Hurler is the highest yielding (104%), with Florence, now classified as a feed variety on 103%. There is then a group of malting varieties on 102%, SY Signet, Skyway, Diviner and SY Tennyson along with the reclassified feed variety Sun King.
Just behind these on 101% are Firefoxx, Laureate and the reclassified feed variety KWS Curtis.
In the fungicide-untreated trials the reclassified feed varieties Sun King (105%) and Florence (103%) are highest yielding, with and Laureate also on 103%. SY Signet, Skyway and the feed variety Hurler are on 102%, with newly recommended varieties Diviner and reclassified feed variety KWS Curtis (100%) just behind these, alongside Firefoxx, and the described null-lox variety CB Score. SY Tennyson is on 99%.
The newly recommended malting varieties that have not been reclassified as feed varieties, SY Signet, SY Tennyson and Diviner remain in the commercial testing phase for malting and growers should speak to merchants about markets before committing to them.
Candidates
Five-year average results provide a better measure of candidate variety potential. However, results can only be published when varieties have completed national listing.
All the candidates this year are potential malting varieties. The highest yielding variety in the fungicide-treated trails so far is the potential brewing variety Nectar, at 105% of controls, two percent above the currently recommended malting varieties. Potential brewing varieties NOS Gambit and LG Aquarius, brewing and malt distilling variety Belter and potential distilling variety NOS Munro are all on 103%. Olsen, a potential brewing and malt distilling variety and RGT Celest a potential brewing variety are on 102%. KWS Nelis, a potential brewing and malt distilling variety, is on 101%, with RGT Eclipse, another potential brewing variety on 100% of controls. The variety Rocker has been withdrawn from the RL system by the breeder and will not be considered for addition to the RL.
In the fungicide-untreated yields, NOS Gambit and Belter are the highest yielding at 105%, matching the best of the currently recommended varieties. Olsen, KWS Nellis and NOS Munro are on 103%.
As with the newly recommended malting varieties provisionally approved for malting, the suitability of the candidates for different malting markets is yet to confirmed by testing and growers should check with merchants about markets before committing to them.
Further information
Access full trial results via the AHDB website: ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults
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
AHDB
Oats commentary
Winter oats
Access the harvest results data
Recommended List winter oat harvest results show treated yields close to average
The harvest results for the RL winter oat trials are now available. Results for seven fungicide-treated trials are reported: Devon, Hampshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, County Down and Fife. Results are also available for six fungicide-untreated trials, with just the Fife untreated trial to report.
The average yield of control varieties in the treated trials stands at 9.13 t/ha, just 0.04 t/ha ahead of the five-year average (9.09 t/ha). In the untreated trials, yield of the control varieties is 7.31 t/ha 0.51 t/ha below the five-year average (7.82 t/ha).
2022/2023 season
This year proved a difficult one for winter oat trials. Two pairs of trials were not drilled for technical reasons and a third pair failed to establish. However, the remaining trials performed well and there were good levels of disease in the untreated trials, reflected in the lower than average yield for these trials.
Calculating yield results
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2023, Dalguise, Mascani and RGT Southwark are the control varieties. The average yield from these varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 results
Most varieties have performed as expected in 2023. In the fungicide-treated trials the husked varieties RGT Southwark and newly recommended variety Cromwell are highest yielding (105%) followed by Dalguise (101%). Gerald is on 96%, with market leader Mascani on 95%. The candidate variety Valentine is on 100%.
For the naked varieties, the market is different and yield isn’t everything. Peloton is the highest yielding in the fungicide-treated trials on 78%, followed by Fusion (72%) and Grafton (70%).
In the fungicide-untreated trials again the husked varieties RGT Southwark and newly recommended variety Cromwell are highest yielding (109%), well ahead of next highest yielding recommended variety Gerald (97%). The candidate variety Valentine is on 98%.
In the naked varieties again Peloton is the highest yielding on 83%, followed by Grafton (70%) and Fusion (66%).
Using the five-year average
The 2023 results show yields based on one season. The five-year average is a better measure of variety performance over seasons.
On this measure RGT Southwark is highest yielding in the fungicide-treated trials (105%), followed by newly recommended Cromwell (103%) and Dalguise (101%). The candidate variety Valentine is on 102%.
In the naked varieties, Peloton is again the highest yielding (77%), followed by Fusion (73%) and Grafton (72%).
In the untreated trials RGT Southwark is highest yielding (109%), with Cromwell on 102% and candidate variety Valentine on 101%. In the naked varieties, Peloton is again the highest yielding (81%), followed by Grafton (70%) and Fusion (67%).
Further information
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
Spring oats
Access the harvest results data
Final spring oat RL harvest results for 2023 show yields above average, but late crops have suffered
Results from all of the spring oat RL trials are now available. Though yields are above average, some late trials suffered from the wet end to harvest, with lodging and sprouting leading to trials being rejected.
Seven fungicide-treated trials have been validated in total, with two rejected. In these trials, the average yield of control varieties is 7.42 t/ha, just above the five-year average of 7.34 t/ha, boosted by late high-yielding trials in Cambridgeshire and Aberdeenshire.
The fungicide-untreated trials have done even better, with average yield of the control varieties at 7.53 t/ha well above the five-year average of 6.59t/ha. Though two trials were rejected.
Calculating yield results
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2023 Aspen, Canyon and WPB Isabel are the control varieties. The yield average from these varieties is represented as 100%.
2023 results
In the fungicide-treated trials WPB Isabel has finished as the highest yielding recommended variety (103%), followed by Merlin (102%), with WPB Isabel outperforming its five-year average. Aspen is on 100%, with Lion on 99%, both above their above its five-year average. In contrast, Canyon (98%), Conway (94%) and newly recommended variety RGT Vaughan (93%) have had a disappointing 2023, with all three percent below their five-year average.
Year 4 candidate husked variety Asterion on 103%, with fellow year 4 candidate Zenith on 102%. Both varieties look to have reasonable grain quality and will be considered for recommendation in November. Year 3 candidate Caledon is on 104%, making it the highest yielding variety in 2023, but it will not be considered for recommendation until 2024.
Of the described naked oat varieties, Lennon and Oliver are on 73%, and Kamil is on 69%, but the naked oat variety market is different, and yield isn’t everything. Year 4 naked candidate variety Ovation is on 73% and will be considered for adding to the list as a Described variety in November.
In the fungicide-untreated trials, Merlin (108%) and Canyon (106%) are the top-yielding recommended varieties in 2023, with WPB Isabel some way behind on 101%, though the year 3 candidate Caledon is the standout variety on 113%. Year 4 candidate Asterion has performed well in these trials (106%) but the other year 4 candidate Zenith has not done so well (100%).
Lennon is highest yielding of the described naked varieties in fungicide-untreated trials (75%) with Oliver on 69%, and Kamil on 67%, with the year 4 candidate Ovation highest yielding on 77%.
Five-year average
The five-year average yield is a better measure of variety performance over seasons, especially with a crop like spring oats, with relatively few trials per year.
On this measure, the year 3 candidate Caledon is highest yielding in the fungicide-treated trials (107%), and it has low lodging. The year four candidate Zenith is on 105% with the other year 4 candidate Asterion is on 102%, but both varieties look to be somewhat susceptible to lodging. Highest yielding of the currently recommended varieties is Merlin (103%), with WPB Isabel and Canyon on 101%. Aspen (98%) and Lion and Conway (97%) and are a little behind these with newly recommended RGT Vaughan on 96%.
Of the naked varieties, Oliver is highest yielding (74%), followed by the year 4 candidate Ovation on 73%, with Lennon on 70% and Kamil on 68%.
In the fungicide-untreated trials, the year 3 husked candidate Caledon is again highest yielding (113%), with the year 4 candidate Asterion on 108% and Zenith on 100%. Of the currently recommended varieties, Merlin is highest yielding on 110% with Canyon on 108%. Newly recommended RGT Vaughan has done better in these fungicide-untreated trials on 103%. In the naked varieties, Lennon is on 72%, Oliver is on 69% and Kamil is on 66%, with the year 4 naked candidate Ovation highest yielding on 76%.
Further information
Access full trial results via the AHDB website: ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults
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
AHDB
Oilseed rape commentary
Winter oilseed rape
Access the harvest results data
Recommended List winter oilseed rape fungicide-untreated harvest results released
One further RL winter oilseed rape fungicide treated yield trial from Fife has now reported, one trial remains to be validated. Four fungicide-untreated trials have now also reported, three further untreated trials failed and will not produce yield results. The fungicide untreated trials are from Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Midlothian and Fife, though it should be noted that these trials do receive a flowering spray to control sclerotinia.
The new fungicide-treated Fife trial has lifted the average gross output yield value of the control varieties for 2023 to 5.46 t/ha, just above the four-year average (5.16 t/ha). The final treated trial is unlikely to change this significantly and so these results are likely to be very close the final dataset.
For the fungicide-untreated trials average gross output yield value of the control varieties for 2023 is 5.14 t/ha, just below the four-year average (5.28 t/ha), with low yields in the Lincolnshire and especially Herefordshire trials and high yields at the Fife and Midlothian sites.
Average yields
Yields are reported as a gross output, which is the seed yield adjusted for oil content. The values are represented as a percentage of the control varieties; Aspire, Aurelia, Ambassador and DK Expansion.
2023 trial yields
The highest yielding hybrid variety in the fungicide-treated trials is the newly recommended North variety LG Wagner (108%), with very good performance in the new Fife trial, however, it is not included in most of the lower yielding East/West trials. LG Auckland is the highest yielding variety with a UK recommendation (105%) followed by newly recommended UK variety Turing (104%) and newly recommended East/West variety Murray (104%). Also newly recommended UK varieties, Vegas (103%) and Attica (102%) are just behind these.
Of the conventional varieties, newly recommended Tom (103%) has performed well in 2023, with Aspire just behind (101%) and well ahead of its four-year average. Other conventional varieties are Acacia (97%) and Annika (94%), which has underperformed in 2023. Amarone, which was recommended last year for the North is yielding 97% overall, above its four-year average.
The clubroot resistant varieties Crome (96%) is at its four-year average, while Crossfit (94%) and especially Crocodile (92%), which both have East/West recommendations, have yielded below their four-year average in 2023.
The herbicide-tolerant varieties have all yielded below their four-year averages in the fungicide treated trials in 2023, suggesting the unusual weather patterns in 2023 have not suited this variety type. Highest yielding is Matrix CL (94%), ahead of newly recommended for the North variety Beatrix (92%) and LG Constructor (85%). LG Constructor has performed very poorly at some northern trial.
In the fungicide-untreated trials East/West variety Murray is the highest yielding hybrid (108%), ahead of Vegas (107%) with North variety LG Wagner, LG Aviron and LG Adonis all on 106%. Newly recommended varieties Attica (105%) and Turing (104%) are just behind these. Newly recommended Tom is the highest yielding of the conventional varieties in these trials (103%), with Aspire on 101%, well ahead of its four-year average and Acacia on 98%. Newly recommended for the North variety Amarone is on 97%.
2020-23 averages
Four-year averages are a better indicator of overall performance. Based on the four-year average values, there is little to choose between the highest yielding varieties in the fungicide-treated trials. The newly recommended hybrid variety Turing is on 106% with newly recommended Attica, newly recommended for the East/West variety Murray and LG Auckland all on 105%. Newly recommended UK variety Vegas and Ambassador are on 104%.
Of the conventional varieties, newly recommended variety Tom is highest yielding on 102%, with Annika and Acacia both on 98%.
Crocodile is the highest yielding clubroot resistant variety (98%) with Crossfit and Crome on 96%.
Of the herbicide-tolerant varieties, Matrix CL is the highest yielding (96%), with LG Constructor on 92%. Newly recommended for the North variety Beatrix CL is on 95%.
In the fungicide-untreated trials newly recommended for the North variety LG Wagner and newly recommended UK variety Vegas are on 106%, with LG Aviron, LG Auckland and newly recommended for the East/West Murray on 105%.
Tom is the highest yielding of the conventional varieties in the fungicide-untrearted trials (103%) with Acacia on 98% and Aspire on 96%. Newly recommended for the North variety Amarone is on 99%.
Crocodile is the highest yielding clubroot resistant variety in the fungicide untreated trials (98%) with Crome on 94% and Crossfit on 92%. While Matrix CL and Beatrix CL are highest yielding of the herbicide-tolerant varieties, both on 95%.
Candidate varieties
Data can only be reported for candidate varieties that have completed National Listing. Highest yielding on the four-year averages in the fungicide-treated trials are the hybrid varieties LG Armada and LG Academic both on 106% closely followed by the hybrid variety Dolphin, (105%) with RGT Kanzzas is on 103%. In the fungicide-untreated trials LG Armada is well ahead on 112%, with LG Academic on 107%, RGT Kanzzas on 106% and Dolphin on 104%.
The only conventional candidate this year Pi Pinnacle, is on 103% in the fungicide-treated trials and 100% in the fungicide-untreated trials.
Miraculix CL is a herbicide-tolerant candidate and is on 95%, though as with the other herbicide-tolerant varieties it has not performed particularly well in 2023. In the fungicide untreated trials it is on 93%
Verticillium stem stripe data
A need of information on varietal resistance to verticillium stem stripe was identified in the last RL review in 2018 and AHDB commissioned a joint ADAS/NIAB research project to investigate the feasibility of producing verticillium information on the RL. Protocols for trialling and disease assessment were successfully developed and have been used over the last two years to gather information on resistance of varieties in RL trials.
The data from this year’s trials (three inoculated and one naturally infected) has been released in harvest results and data from 2022 is also available here. The data from these trials will be combined with data from previous years to provide ratings for the new 2024/25 RL, which will be released at the end of November.
Further information
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
AHDB
Other crops (descriptive lists) commentary
Descriptive lists are used when recommendation is not appropriate but there is demand for data for varieties for which seed is likely to be available in the coming year.
Trials are conducted with the same rigour as other RL trials but are fewer in number.
As a result, differences between varieties may not always be statistically significant and particular attention should be paid to LSDs (least significant differences).
Winter rye and winter triticale
Access the harvest results data
Winter rye and winter triticale harvest results – it’s a mixed picture
AHDB Descriptive Lists (DL) rather than Recommend Lists (RL) are published for winter rye and winter triticale. DLs are used where recommendation is not appropriate, but for which there is a wish to provide some descriptive data within the RL system. Far fewer trials are run than for the RLs and differences between varieties should be treated with more caution.
All trials for the AHDB winter rye and winter triticale lists have now reported in and it’s a complete switch around from 2022, when, average yield of the control varieties in the triticale trials exceeding the five-year average, and those in the rye trials were below the five-year average. In 2023, average yield of the controls in the triticale trials is well below the five-year average, while in the rye trials the average yield of the controls is well above the five-year average, perhaps reflecting the very different seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Yields
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. The average of the yields from these varieties is represented as 100%. All trials receive a fungicide and PGR program, there are no fungicide-untreated trials.
Winter triticale 2023
Average treated yield of the control varieties in 2023 is 10.11 t/ha, well below the five-year average (10.65 t/ha). Quality is also reduced, with low specific weights in two of the four trials and like wheat, low protein.
With so few trials care must be taken not to overinterpret the results. Nevertheless, the highest yielding DL variety in 2023 is Lumaco at 104% of controls, matching its five-year average. Second highest yielding in 2023 is KWS Fido (103%), with SU Liborious (102%) and Temuco on (101%) just behind, with all three of these varieties on 101% on the five-year average. DL candidates SU Askadus (99%) and RGT Eleac (98%) are a little behind these on yield, but their five-year averages are higher (100% and 101% respectively) and it must be remembered this is a small dataset. SU Askadus looks to have good quality as well. Tribeca seems to have had a poor year, but this is largely down to a very low yield at one high yielding site in Fife.
Winter rye 2023
Winter rye trials measure grain yield, not whole-crop yield, although the two are closely related. The 2023 average yield of the control varieties (11.02 t/ha) is above the five-year average (10.17 t/ha), with particularly high yield in the Fife trial. Like triticale and wheat, protein is low in 2023, with specific weight and Hagberg Falling Number also lower, reflecting the season.
Differences between varieties should be treated with caution due to the small number of trials, but KWS Igor has performed well in 2023 (105%) with SU Baresi second highest yielding on 103%. The DL candidates SU Perspectiv, SU Karlsson, KWS Inspirator, KWS Gilmor and Astranos are all on 102% in 2023, though except for SU Karlsson, this is below their five-year average. KWS Tayo is also on 102% in 2023, but again, this is below its five-year average. Poseidon has performed well below its five-year average in 2023 across all trials and the season does not seen to have suited it.
Candidates
All the candidate varieties will be added to the DL for both rye and triticale, unless the breeder withdraws them from the system. Seed may no longer be available for some varieties on the DL or only available in small quantities and these will be removed from the DL in December.
Further information
Access full trial results here.
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
Spring oilseed rape and spring linseed
Access the harvest results data
Spring oilseed RL trials reveal another challenging season
Descriptive lists (rather than recommended lists) are used when recommendation is not appropriate, but there is demand for data for varieties for which seed is likely to be available in the coming year.
Descriptive list trials for spring linseed and spring oilseed rape are conducted with the same rigour as other RL trials but are fewer in number. As a result, differences between varieties may not always be statistically significant and particular attention should be paid to LSDs (least significant differences) when comparing varieties. Varieties that differ by less than the LSD are not statistically different.
Spring linseed
Of the five spring linseed trials four were successfully brough to harvest, a fifth was rejected due to high weed pressure. Yields of the four trials were very low, with average control yield as low as 1.21 t/ha in a trial in Wiltshire, with the average over all four trials of just 1.67 t/ha compared with a five-year average of 2.13 t/ha.
Yield averages
Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. With just a small number of trials the five-year average yields are a better guide to variety performance. Having said that, the three highest yielding DL varieties in 2023 were Juliet (114%) and Bingo (110%) and Bliss (105%) which are also the highest yielding on the five-year averages (108%, 107% and 106% respectively). Ineke, Octal and Buffalo are all on 102% on the five-year average, through Ineke (97%) and Buffalo (99%) had a poor year in 2023. In contrast Daniel, 98% on the five-year average, had a very good 2023 (105%).
The candidate variety Skylark had a good 2023 (109%) and its five-year average of 109% makes it the highest yielding variety overall. The other new candidate, Richess, is yielding 97% on the five-year average. Both varieties look to be medium for maturity, but Riches has a higher oil content. Both varieties will be added to the DL in November, unless withdrawn by the breeder.
Spring oilseed rape
Spring oilseed rape is a challenging crop to trial and this proved to be the case again in 2023. Of the three trials planted two were lost, one due to poor establishment, one due to high weed pressure, with just a trial in Fife remaining. Gross output yield data (yield with an adjustment for oil content) shows even this trial was lower yielding that the five-year average.
Yield averages
Highest yielding variety in this trial (107%) and on the five-year average (106%) was Lakritz, with Lumen second highest yielding on 103%. Lumen, Lagonda and Performer are all on 100% on the five-year average, with Lavina on 101%. The conventional variety Fergus is on 95% on the five-year yields, alongside the Clearfield® variety Contra CL, with the clubroot resistant variety Menthal on 93%. Though lower yielding these varieties offer different options for rotation management.
Further information
Access full trial results via the AHDB website: ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults
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
AHDB
***Important***
Results from individual trial sites should not be used to make conclusions on variety performance. The RL is based on information taken from trials across the UK over several seasons – which comprise four years for oilseeds and five years for cereals. These averages provide better information for comparison between varieties. When more results are available, validation procedures will examine cross-site differences further. As more information becomes available from the current harvest, this will contribute to the over-trials averages.
