From Carnoustie in the north to Kent in the south, the Agrii variety trials tell the same story. John Miles, Agrii seed technical manager, dissects the results.
Possibly because everywhere had intense disease pressure, everywhere was wet, or everywhere had less sunshine – there were minimal regional differences between trials. It is perhaps not surprising that it is the same varieties topping the performance table. This is not to suggest there is a group of varieties that are simply superior to everything else, but more a case that a small selection suited the season better than everything else. In another year, the results may well be different. All of which serves to endorse the message that risk is best managed by having a good spread of varieties.
There is of course more to the story. Septoria and yellow rust continue to dominate, especially in relation to brown rust, and it is notable that many of the varieties showing the greatest weakness share the same genetics.
Agrii seed technical manager
Of the quality wheats, the varieties notable for their impressive performance include KWS Zyatt and its crosses, KWS Ultimatum and KWS Palladium, all of which have demonstrated good Septoria resistance. News that SY Cheer is now fully approved as a Group 1 is welcome news, but it has been well-beaten this year by KWS Zyatt.
Of the biscuit and feed varieties, Champion, Fitzroy, Graham and RGT Hexton have done well. Those that have underperformed include LG Skyscraper, Costello and its crosses, KWS Dawsum and LG Beowulf, and the Cougar crosses, RGT Bairstow and RGT Stokes.
It is also notable that drilling date and seedbed conditions at sowing were also contributory factors to performance – more so than drilling date. Crops that went into good seedbeds in December, January or even February have tended to outperform those that went into less than decent ground in late October or November.
Of the soft wheats to consider next season, Bamford and Blackstone are worth a look. Bamford, a Group 3, is the highest yielding soft wheat, has stiffer straw than LG Skyscraper, has better Septoria resistance, which will appeal to those wanting to drill from mid-September, has high bushel weights of 78.5 kg/hl and has produced good spirit yields. Its lack of orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM) is its most significant omission on an otherwise strong CV.
Blackstone is a soft feed also with OWBM resistance, higher yields and better disease resistance than LG Skyscraper. It’s best suited to the north and suitable for all soil types, including sites of higher sterility.
For those who prefer hard feeds there is perhaps greater variety choice. Champion and Graham are established varieties that growers know well. Their 2024 performance suggests both varieties will continue to do well for growers, especially those outside the south and south-east where brown rust is less concerning.
Fitzroy continues to outperform its peers and deserves consideration. Its late maturity makes it better suited to the central and southern regions of England where it has consistently been one of the strongest performers, perhaps due to its outstanding Septoria resistance. Not suited to early drilling, it can be sown until the end of October, does well on all soil types and as a second wheat. It’s reasonably tall so benefits from a robust PGR programme. Like Bamford, the lack of OWBM resistance is the most notable omission from an otherwise strong set of credentials.
RGT Hexton, a soft feed Graham cross, is one for autumn 2025. It has impressed this season, especially north of the Forth, and has a reasonable set of agronomic scores. Its progression to the Recommended List seems guaranteed.
Lastly, and although not one of the highest yielding varieties, RGT Goldfinch offers something different. Like its stablemate RGT Grouse, it offers BYDV resistance. Although never in the top half of the table for yield, RGT Goldfinch has impressed. For those whom BYDV is a concern, RGT Goldfinch is a notable improvement over RGT Grouse and worthy of consideration, but only where there is significant BYDV risk to crops.
The benefits of seed treatments are often overlooked, but trials have consistently demonstrated their value. The primary purpose is to support plant health ahead of the winter and this often leads to more consistent crops in the spring. As a minimum a base treatment such as Beret Gold (fludioxonil) is advisable. The upgrade to a bio-stimulant such as Vibrance Duo (fludioxonil + sedaxane) greatly improves establishment rates especially in later-sown crops. For this reason, it has become the standard treatment for those with high workloads or a preference for delayed drilling.
Nutrient coatings such as i-Man (manganese), Zax (zinc) or Fielder Copper (copper) should be considered where there is a history of deficiency or where typically high phosphate levels can interfere with their availability from soil.
