All breeders wait with anticipation for the launch of the AHDB Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) which are the result of extensive trials. The presentation of the lists is continually being improved and the AHDB is seeking input on their clarity.
This year the Lists gained 22 new varieties including a new variety of biscuit wheat, Elicit, developed by Elsoms. The Group 3 wheats have been under pressure in recent years with yields worryingly low. This has resulted in low supplies to the domestic and export markets, creating a competitive opportunity for producers.
New biscuit wheat
David Coop of Elsoms was delighted with the inclusion. He comments: “Elicit is new to the 2018/19 Recommended List and will help to fill this market segment. It offers a winning combination of high yields and disease resistance.”
The AHDB comments that of particular note is Elicit’s septoria rating, which is the highest of all the Group 3 varieties, and only exceeded by six varieties on the whole of the Recommended List. Additionally, Elicit has good resistance to other diseases, including yellow rust and brown rust. As a result Elicit also has the highest untreated yield of this group.
For winter barley, there were three new six-row winter feed varieties recommended for the advances they bring to this group. This includes one new conventional six-row feed variety, KWS Astaire, has been recommended. This variety combines good treated yield with a superb package of disease resistance and achieves the highest untreated yield, not only of the six-row feed varieties, but of the whole winter barley Recommended List.
Improving the RL
The AHDB is considering improvements to the way it presents its Recommended Lists and has a survey to gauge opinion of the current RL publications. For example the Winter oilseed rape varieties are presented on a single UK table for the first time with varieties differentiated by region.
AHDB Senior Crop Production Scientist, Dr Jenna Watts, said: “It is important to us that we listen to the people who use the Recommended Lists, to make sure that we continue to provide farmers, agronomists and industry with the best possible information and make the RL fit for the future.”
The survey can be found online at cereals.ahdb.org.uk/varieties
Summaries of the new AHDB Recommended Lists are available on the AHDB website at cereals.ahdb.org.uk/varieties.
A print edition of the AHDB Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds booklet will be distributed in Spring 2018