Harvest Results – Winter barley and OSR

Harvest Results have been analysed from the majority (17/22) of the winter barley sites in the 2018 trial system, reports AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds.

The average treated yield of control varieties (10.09t/ha) remains ahead of the five-year average (9.9t/ha).

These averages now include treated yields from five additional winter barley sites (Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Moray), which were analysed this week.

In total, untreated yield data from nine sites – Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Fife, Glamorgan, Hampshire, Lincolnshire (two sites), North Yorkshire and Scottish Borders – have also been published. The average untreated yield of control varieties (8.08t/ha) is also above the five-year average (7.8t/ha).

Despite the weather extremes across the UK this season, results to date show no significant differences in yields compared to previous seasons.

Regional information on weather patterns can be found on the new AHDB WeatherHub site: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/weatherhub

2018 averages

Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2018, the control varieties comprise two malting varieties, SY Venture and Talisman, the six-row hybrid variety Bazooka, the six-row conventional variety Funky and the two-row feed variety KWS Glacier. The average of the yields from these varieties is represented as 100%. The current 2018 values show yields based on one season from 17 sites only.

In 2018, the six-row hybrid feed varieties Belmont (109%), Sunningdale (106%), Belfry (105%) and Bazooka (104%) are performing well. The conventional six-row feed variety KWS Astaire (104%) is also performing well on yield.

The two-row feed varieties KWS Creswell (104%), KWS Tower (104%), KWS Orwell (103%) and KWS Infinity (103%) are showing the best yields so far in 2018.

Two-row malting varieties are judged more on their quality than outright yield. Currently, the average yields are Craft (98%), Electrum (98%), SY Venture (97%), Coref (96%) and Talisman (96%).

2014–18 (five-year) averages

The five-year average values (2014 to 2018) provide a better representation of performance across seasons.

The six-row hybrids Belmont (109%), Bazooka (108%), Belfry (107%) and Sunningdale (107%) are performing well.

The two-row feeds, KWS Orwell (103%) and Surge (102%) are performing well on yield.

Five-year average results also provide a better measure of candidate varieties. Results can only be published when varieties have completed national listing. New candidate malting varieties are not national listed at this stage, so results cannot be reported. The candidate six-row hybrid varieties are achieving good yields in the five-year average figures with SY Kingsbarn at 109% and SY Baracooda at 109%. New two-row feed varieties KWS Gimlet (104%), LG Mountain (104%), LG Flynn (104%) and Sobell (103%) are looking favourable, when compared with current popular two-row feed varieties.

Below-average WOSR yield masks regional variation

Yield data from half (11/22) of the winter oilseed rape treated trials in 2018 are now available from the AHDB Harvest Results pages.

The results include eight treated trials – covering areas from Hampshire, Kent and Suffolk in the South and the East, Midlothian in the North and Hereford and Shropshire in the West – which were added today (13 August 2018).

The average treated gross output value of the control varieties (11 trials) is 5.12t/ha, which is 0.32t/ha below the four-year average value of 5.44t/ha.

Sites in Kent, Hampshire and Suffolk are pulling down the average. Sites further north and west are performing better than the average, particularly sites in Lincolnshire, Midlothian and Shropshire.

Results from individual trial sites, however, should not be used to make conclusions on variety performance. This is especially true for winter oilseed rape, as performance tends to be more variable than cereals.

The AHDB Recommended Lists, which are based on results from UK trials over several seasons, provide the best indication of variety performance.

When looking at Harvest Results, the over-trials and over-years average (based on four harvest years – 2015 to 2018) provide good information for comparison between varieties.

2018 averages

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 – Trinity, V 316 OL, Campus, Nikita and Alizze.

The 2018 gross output value of the control varieties (5.12/ha) is below the four-year average (5.44t/ha).

The restored hybrid varieties Windozz (105%), Alizze (103%), Wembley (103%), the conventional variety Elevation (104%) and the Turnip Yellows Virus resistant variety Architect (104%) are all performing well.

2015–18 (four-year) averages

Based on the four-year average values, the highest-yielding varieties to date are Windozz (104%), with Alizze, Barbados, Elevation, Elgar, Flamingo and Wembley achieving 102%.  Many of the varieties at the top of the yield table are associated with better resistance to light leaf spot.

The clubroot resistant variety Mentor has a gross output of 96% and the Turnip Yellows Virus resistant variety Architect has a gross output of 100%. The semi-dwarf varieties DK Secret has a gross output of 95%.

Gross output values for the candidate varieties, based on the preliminary four-year averages, currently show that the conventional variety Aspire (106%) and the restored hybrid varieties DK Expansion (103%), DK Exsteel (103%) and PT275 (103%) have performed well. The clubroot resistant variety Crome is also performing exceptionally well at 103%, compared to the existing clubroot resistant variety.

Full trial results can be accessed via the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds website: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/harvestresults