Harvest Results – 22nd August

First three winter wheat trials give yields close to the five-year average.

Harvest results for the first three AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) winter wheat trials report average yields of 10.57t/ha, which is very close to the five-year average of 10.59t/ha. Specific weights from one trial in Essex average 78.6kg/hl, reports AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds.

 In 2016, Group 4 hard feed varieties are giving the highest outright yields, with Evolution top of the table at 106%, and KWS Santiago, Belgrade, and KWS Silverstone all yielding 105%.

 2016 Candidates

2016 feed varieties are performing well, with candidates RGT Paddington (a hard feed variety) and soft feed varieties Bennington and Stratosphere all yielding 106%.

Winter barley yields remain low after 19 trials

Updated AHDB Harvest Results (22 August 2016) show that both treated and untreated yields for winter barley remain down on the five-year average.

The overall treated yield average for 2016 is 8.99t/ha, which is 0.36t/ha below the five year average, with the untreated yield average at 6.82t/ha, compared to the five-year value of 7.52t/ha.

Specific weights from seven trials average just 65.4kg/hl. Screenings through a 2.5 mm sieve are also running high at an average of 20%.

Six-row varieties continue to perform well against control variety yields.

In 2016, the six-row feed varieties top the yields with the hybrids Bazooka and Belfry highest in the yield table (110% of the control varieties). Volume is also performing well at 107%.  KWS Meridian remains in trial as a six-row conventional variety control and has performed well at 108%. Candidate six-row varieties are also achieving good yields, hybrid variety Sunningdale (110%) and six-row conventional Funky (107%) both yielding well. Of all the six rows, Bazooka has the highest specific weight value to date at 66.3kg/hl, which is above the average of 65.4kg/hl.

Two-row malting varieties are judged more on their quality than outright yield. Based on 2016 information so far, Craft has performed well with a yield of 97% and specific weight of 67.1kg/hl. SY Venture yielded 94% with a specific weight of 66.5kg/hl, and Talisman also yielded highly (93%) with a specific weight of 64.2kg/hl. 

The two-row feed variety KWS Orwell is currently top of the two-rows at 106%, with Surge at 104%. Specific weights of these varieties are currently 65.0kg/hl and 66.6kg/hl.

When selecting varieties for next season, the five-year average values give a better representation of performance across seasons. Looking at these, Bazooka tops the Recommended winter barley yields at 109%, and Belfry at 108% for six-row hybrids. The two-row feed variety KWS Orwell achieves 104%, KWS Infinity and Surge 103%, whilst KWS Tower and KWS Glacier both yield 102% of the controls.

More harvest results tables can be viewed at: www.cereals.ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults