UK: AHDB launches its Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds 2024/25

AHDB has launched (27 November 2023) the online edition of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) 2024/25.

With fewer new varieties added than in recent years, the latest edition has shorter lists for most major crops and features several eye-catching new additions, including the first BYDV-tolerant six-row hybrid winter barley, the first new provisional UKFM Group 1 winter wheat since 2017 and a ‘barn-filling’ Group 3 winter wheat.

RL 2024/25 also features many improvements to the tables, following feedback from the RL review, as well as information on verticillium stem stripe resistance in oilseed rape for the first time.

Paul Gosling, who manages the RL at AHDB, said:

“The RL review has already resulted in numerous changes to the lists. This year’s leaner lists will be welcomed by many. However, quality remains high, with several exciting new additions.”

The winter barley list has two new varieties. SY Buzzard is the first six-row hybrid with tolerance to BYDV, which will be of particular interest to growers who want to avoid insecticide use. It also has relatively good resistance to lodging, although it is lower yielding than other six-row hybrids. Two-row feed variety LG Capitol has high treated and untreated yields, with a good disease resistance package.

The spring barley list has six new varieties, all under evaluation for malting by the Malting Barley Committee (MBC): three for brewing only, two for brewing and malt distilling and one for malt distilling only. The list now makes it easier to identify which varieties have full MBC approval or are under test.

In terms of yield, especially in the East region, Bounty1 (from Agrovista) is the standout addition. Under test for brewing only, it offers good disease and lodging resistance. NOS Gambit (from Senova) and LG Aquarius, also under test for brewing only, are lower yielding than Bounty, although disease resistance and standing are good. Under test for both brewing and malt distilling are Belter (from Agrii) and Olsen (from Limagrain) that feature treated and untreated yields above the current market leaders. NOS Munro (from Senova) is under test for malt distilling only and is high yielding in the North.

While the new additions offer improvements in yield and/or disease resistance compared with the current market leaders (RGT Planet and Laureate), the market is tough to break into and they may still fail to achieve full MBC approval.

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