‘LG Beowulf Has Earned Its Place on Our Farm’ Says Lincolnshire Grower

For Rob Nickols, two years of growing LG Beowulf have confirmed its resilience and dependable performance — even in one of the toughest seasons on record.

Farming 540ha of rented, contracted and owned land on the Fens near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, Rob Nickols has grown LG Beowulf for the past two years and has been suitably impressed with the variety, despite the challenging season. Growing mostly first wheats, winter and spring beans, sugar beet, millet and spring barley, Mr Nickols largely targets the feed market but has grown LG Beowulf for seed this season after it performed well last year.

“We planted 14ha of LG Beowulf for seed as well another 12ha separately, using a John Deere 750A in mid-October 2024. It was drilled into land which suffers with blackgrass, so it had both a pre-emergence and peri-emergence herbicide. It went into a stale seedbed in good conditions, with no significant issues,” explains Mr Nickols.

Throughout the season disease levels were low and although Mr Nickols is aware of changes to the variety’s resistance to yellow rust, he did not see a lot of disease. “The variety had a full fungicide programme but it was not overdone,” he notes. “At T0 we applied Sakura (bromuconazole + tebuconazole), which was followed by Ceratavo Plus (benzovindiflupyr) and Carcamo at T1 (prothioconazole + tebuconazole). At T2 it received Rylox (mefentrifluconazole + pyraclostrobin) and Imtex (fluxapyroxad) and at T3, Amistar (azoxystrobin).

He points out that septoria is the bigger yield robber, but if there was going to be a disease issue that has been challenging this season, it would be yellow rust. “All varieties seem to have lost some resistance to yellow rust this year but while we have tebuconazole we can tackle the disease.

“At the end of the day, applying a T0 is not expensive, totalling around £13/ha (not including PGR), so apart from the extra time involved in its application, it works out similar in cost to years where it has been too wet to apply one and we have subsequently had to increase our spend at T1.”

In terms of nutrition, LG Beowulf received an average of 210kgN/ha which was applied using Yara’s N-Sensor.

Like many others, Mr Nickols experienced drought on his farm this year, with only 240mm of rain falling since January. “Around 50mm of this fell in January”.

“LG Beowulf has done really well in such extreme drought conditions which goes to show its resilience.

“Although it is probably a slightly taller variety than some, it has stood well without any challenge for the past two seasons, says Mr Nickols.

“LG Beowulf came off the cart at 11.4t/ha, which was neck and neck with another variety we had on similar land, but well above other varieties we had on farm.

Based on the results we have had from the past two years of growing it, it has proven itself a good variety, so we will keep it on farm for as long as we can.”

Download our LG Arable Guide for all the latest on our winter oilseed rape, wheat and barley varieties

There’s an excellent opportunity to establish oilseed rape and capitalise on this potentially profitable break crop.

Oilseed rape was a stand-out performer on many farms this harvest, with Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman even setting a new world record yield with his 10 September-sown crop of LG Avenger.

Many growers will have already drilled 2025/26 crops, but for those that have not, there is still time to get oilseed rape in, providing conditions are suitable, says Limagrain Field Seeds senior trials officer, Ryan Kemp.

“In our trials on the Lincolnshire Wolds, we’ve drilled oilseed rape right up to the first week in October in some years, and still produced decent crops. The UK generally doesn’t really see extremely cold winters anymore, so, providing there is still sufficient warmth and moisture in the soil, and you can get crops to the 6 to 9 true leaf stage before winter, they should survive pretty well.”

Indeed, later drilling can be advantageous in helping to miss early cabbage stem flea beetle activity, potentially reducing the classic ‘shot-holing’ damage caused by adults, and also reducing larvae pressure in spring. Smaller plants also tend to be at lower risk from foliar diseases, such as light leaf spot, compared with earlier-sown, dense canopies, he notes.

Rapid establishment is key

Strong, fast, establishment is central to the success of any oilseed rape crop though, particularly when sowing later in the season, and Mr Kemp identifies five important steps to help achieve this:

1. Select the right variety
All LG hybrid varieties have very good hybrid autumn vigour and are well suited for later drilling

2. Wait for moisture
Adequate soil moisture at drilling, and crucially, 10 days after drilling, is vital for rapid oilseed rape germination and establishment

3. Establish crops well
The optimum establishment technique will vary for individual situations and soil types, but whatever system is used, maximising seed-to-soil contact and conserving moisture with adequate seedbed consolidation, is key. Remove any compaction prior to drilling, to avoid compromising root growth, but only do what is necessary, to help conserve moisture and protect natural soil structure. Strip tillage systems that only disturb a narrow band of soil can work very well for oilseed rape

4. Use a placement fertiliser
Placing phosphate and a small amount of nitrogen fertiliser with seed at drilling is a very effective way of stimulating strong root development and crop establishment. Liquid and microgranular products are available, so discuss the best options with your agronomist or advisor

5. Control weeds early
Any pre-emergence herbicides should be applied as soon as possible after drilling to minimise early weed competition.

“Growing any crop, oilseed rape in particular, can sometimes be like a roll of the dice, so you have to be prepared to invest a bit of time and money to make it work,” says Mr Kemp.

“If you do, oilseed rape is still very profitable in the right situations. It can yield brilliantly, as we have seen on-farm and in trials, this year, where there have been some really good yields. We’ve had up to 6 t/ha in some of our trial plots, which is fantastic, and at those sort of yields, oilseed rape makes a really valuable addition to the rotation.”

Stand-out performer

Staffordshire farmer, Rob Atkin, says oilseed rape has been the “crop of the year” on the 380 ha mixed family farm.

His 14 ha of LG Armada yielded around 5 t/ha (2 t/acre), well above the farm average of nearer 4.2 t/ha (1.7 t/acre), and with relatively high oil content. “For us, it was one of the best years for growing oilseed rape for a long time.”

The two fields both followed winter barley, one drilled on 5th August, the other on the 25th. “The later-sown field did struggle a bit with pigeon damage last autumn, but other than that, there wasn’t a lot to choose between them. They established quickly and looked well all through winter, and into spring/summer,” he notes.

Mr Atkin has increased his oilseed rape area to 60 ha for 2025/26, split 50:50 between LG Armada and the cabbage stem flea beetle-resilient variety, LG Avenger. “Although CSFB pressure was very low last year, and we haven’t seen much activity so far this year, it can be an issue here, so it’s another tool to help us reduce risk.”

Reasons to grow OSR

• Potentially very profitable break crop
• Provides a true break in cereal-dominant rotations
• Spreads workloads during busy periods, particularly harvest and drilling
• Facilitates an early entry for following crops
• Allows alternative chemistry to be used for weed control

With our climate changing, disease pathogens evolving and the chemical armoury shrinking, the goalposts for breeding new wheat varieties are constantly shifting. To see how one breeder is rising to these challenges, four leading growers put their questions to Limagrain Field Seeds senior wheat breeder, Phil Tailby.

How can modern breeding techniques help meet future challenges?

Technology such as Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) and Genomic Selection has been around for several years, but is now delivering significant benefits to the varieties coming through, says Mr Tailby.

Limagrain Wheat Breeder Phil Tailby on breeding new wheat varieties

“MAS gives us the ability to select individuals with the specific genes that farmers want, such as Septoria or yellow rust resistance, very early in the breeding cycle, and do so far more intensively and efficiently than in the past.

“Genomic selection also allows us to model the more complex quantitative traits, such as yield, that come from multiple genes interacting with each other and the environment.

“Over the past 15 years, we have genotyped material to check for 20,000-30,000 markers to build a genetic profile of each potential variety.

In addition, everything is measured in the field (phenotyped), from height, yield, lodging, spec weight, Hagberg, etc. We can then use statistical models to predict how crosses will perform in the field, based on a vast amount of actual data that is constantly being updated.”

How are you tackling changing pathogens, such as yellow rust?

The evolution of yellow rust in recent years poses challenges for all breeders, and means new varieties need multiple ‘stacked’ resistance genes, to be more resilient, says Mr Tailby.

“We have the technology to map resistances, so we can identify those that work, and select the lines with the genes we want to use in combination together within any new variety. If you have the genetic marker, there’s a very high probability of having that gene as well.

“We can do this for any traits we have markers for, whether that’s yellow rust, brown rust, Septoria, or anything else.”

When people say a variety ‘breaks down’, is it the gene or the disease that’s changing?

“Pathogens change, genes don’t,” explains Mr Tailby.

“Resistance genes generally work by recognising the pathogen, then deploying a resistance mechanism of some sort. A hypersensitive response, for example, means when a spore lands on a plant, the plant recognises it, then kills the tissue around the spore to stop it spreading.

“As a pathogen replicates, it makes copies of its RNA/DNA, but it’s never a perfect system; there are always some errors. If, by chance, one of those errors happens to be in the genes that make up the sequence that codes for the protein the plant recognises, plants may no longer recognise the pathogen.”

As a breeder, what do you think about blending varieties?

Mr Tailby recognises there can be benefits to variety blends in some situations on farm, providing varieties are chosen carefully and end-user acceptance is there.

“Every variety will have a weakness of some sort, whether that’s blindingly obvious (e.g. straw strength or disease resistance), or less obvious, such as a particular weakness to a subtle abiotic stress.

By growing a blend, you are effectively ‘diluting’ the risk of any one variety having a poor year.

A variety with lower resistance to Septoria, for example, may do better in a blend with more resistant varieties, because there is less inoculum around.”

To learn more about our wheat varieties, click here

LG Legends

In a world of shifting climates, evolving disease pressures, and a shrinking chemical toolbox, breeding new wheat varieties has never been more complex, or more critical. Through open dialogue with experienced growers, Limagrain are ensuring that breeding innovation remains grounded in the realities of modern farming. As this Q&A shows, collaboration between breeders and farmers is key to developing resilient, high-performing varieties that are fit for the future.

This Q&A is taken from a Limagrain Field Seeds discussion with four ‘LG Legends’ growers; Ryan McCormack, Farm Manager at Dennington Hall Farms in Suffolk, Luke Palmer, of F.C Palmer & Sons near Cambridge, Rob Atkin of Atkin Farms in Staffordshire, and Cambridgeshire/ Bedfordshire contractor, Matt Redman.

As unpredictable harvest weather continues to test the resilience of UK farming, leading plant breeders, Limagrain Field Seeds UK is urging oilseed rape (OSR) growers to treat pod shatter resistance as a fundamental requirement when selecting varieties.

“By the time oilseed rape reaches maturity, virtually all production costs have been incurred,” explains Florentina Petrescu, UK Oilseed Rape Product Manager for the breeders.

“Protecting yield right through to the combine isn’t optional – it’s essential. Incorporating pod shatter resistance into variety choice is one of the most effective risk management tools available to growers today.”

“Unlike agronomic interventions that can be adjusted in-season, pod shatter resistance is built into the genetics of the plant,” says Mrs Petrescu. “This makes the decision at variety selection time absolutely critical.”

Understanding Pod Shatter

Pod shatter is an evolutionary seed dispersal mechanism in brassicas, but on farm, it can be triggered prematurely by high winds, rain, hail or machinery movement – leading to severe yield losses just days before harvest.

Not All Resistance is Equal

Limagrain conducts rigorous, laboratory-based tests to quantify pod shatter resistance (POSH) by measuring the physical force required to break open pods. Results consistently show wide performance differences between varieties, despite similar marketing claims.

“All of LG hybrids carry the pod shatter trait, and we benchmark them regularly against competitor varieties,” she says.

“The contrast was especially evident during the challenging harvest of 2023 – one of the wettest and windiest Julys on record. While many crops suffered heavy losses, Limagrain hybrids with strong pod shatter resistance emerged intact.”

A Grower’s Perspective: Managing Risk in the Borders

Northumberland farmer Richard Brewis of Woodhouse Farm, Alnwick, is firm in his belief that pod shatter resistance in the oilseed rape varieties he chooses to grow is indispensable.

His main risk is from high winds, rather than hail, and the approach is working well across his 60 hectares of OSR.

“For me, growing a pod shatter-resistant variety is a belt-and-braces strategy for growing a successful OSR crop,” he explains. “We like to aim for 5t/ha – hitting 4t/ha is acceptable – but that extra tonne could be the difference between seeds on the ground or in the trailer.”

When deciding what varieties to grow, he works closely with David Watson of Nickerson. Mr Watson’s advice is ‘why take the risk of losing crop to weather or physical damage to the crop if it’s not necessary’

“Ultimately, it means getting a valuable genetic trait without paying extra for it. Choosing a variety without pod shatter resistance at this point just seems reckless.”

This season, Mr Brewis is growing LG Wagner and LG Anarion, following past success with Limagrain’s hybrid, Aurelia, all of which offer the pod shatter resistance trait, along with other traits and agronomic benefits that he looks for, ranging from TuYV resistance to stiff straw and good Light Leaf Spot disease resistance.

LG Wagner is a hardy, high yielding variety suited for the north, with a growth habit suited to challenging growing conditions as well as offering an excellent disease package and pod shatter resistance. LG Anarion is a fully loaded, high yielding variety that also offers Clubroot resistance. It has very strong early vigour and exceptional winter hardiness which allows it to perform very strongly in areas where clubroot is endemic.

Mr Brewis complements the genetic resistance in the varieties with a pod sealant spray applied around 10 days prior to desiccation.

“Let’s face it he says, we are halfway to a good crop a week before harvest. We tend to go on with the pod stick about 10 days before desiccation as it is less brutal to the crop. The crop is lying forward when we come on with the roundup, so there is less damage to the standing plants and pods and it’s easier to pick up the tramlines,” he says.

He points out there is a practical time saving benefit to doing it this way: “It’s also easier to wash out straight pod stick and straight roundup than a mix, and mostly you can guarantee to do the pod stick in a oner since it’s not a pesticide so only one washout.”

Summary

Woodhouse Farm, 255 hectares

Rotation: wheat, winter oats, spring beans, oilseed rape, spring linseed

Key attributes for choosing an oilseed rape variety:

• High yielding
• Good oil content
• Pod Shatter
• TuYV
• Good Light Leaf Spot disease resistance
• Stiff straw

Learn more about Pod Shatter

Download LG Arable Guide for all the latest on our winter oilseed rape, wheat and barley varieties

Over the last few years the upfront costs and establishment challenges have made OSR a risky option, but with recent improvements in pest pressure, genetics and recently market prices, could OSR be making a comeback?

With SFI coming to a close and reports of lower CSFB larvae numbers from last autumn – the conditions are changing – and growers may be more inclined to return to what remains one of the most profitable break crops they can grow.

Beckii Gibbs, seed manager at United Oilseeds says: “A major positive has been the improvement in prices which have steadily strengthened over the past year, rising from an average of £370 per tonne in August 2024 to £405 per tonne for August 2025.

A Technical Crop Demands a Technical Approach

“With the market moving in the right direction and pest pressure easing, confidence in oilseed rape is beginning to rebuild. But those considering a return to OSR must still treat it as the technical crop it has become,” says Florentina Petrescu, oilseed rape product manager for plant breeders Limagrain Field Seeds UK.

“Integrated Pest Management strategies remain essential for OSR success,” she says.

Establishment Techniques That Work

Growers are seeing benefits from adapting cultivation methods, drilling into moist seedbeds, applying organic matter, and making use of companion or trap crops. Establishing OSR away from previous OSR fields also helps disrupt pest cycles and improves the chances of a strong, healthy crop.

However a key part of the success of the crop comes down to the importance of variety choice and Ms Petrescu believes this cannot be overstated.

Genetics Make the Difference

“Advances in oilseed rape breeding have delivered a new generation of hybrids with improved disease resistance, pod shatter protection, and greater resilience,” she notes.

“In the field, these genetic traits play out as a risk management strategy, by allowing the crop to meet its full gross output potential.

“LG Avenger is the result of our new methods of breeding oilseed rape varieties, which consider all limiting factors for crop development, including the threat from CSFB.

“It is the only variety with LG Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle Resilience on the 2025/26 AHDB Recommended List, alongside many other valuable characteristics, including high yield, pod shatter resistance, high oil content and a very good disease package, including a light leaf spot rating of 7 and sclerotinia tolerance,” she says.

Ms Petrescu notes the introduction of LG CSFB Resilience is the latest in a long line of developments that have helped improve yields in LG’s ‘fully loaded varieties’.

Fully loaded varieties include key traits such as POSH (pod shatter resistance), Stem Health, Sclero-Flex for sclerotinia tolerance, N-Flex for nitrogen efficiency, and robust TuYV resistance, which can reduce the need for aphid sprays.

LG Adapt, recommended across both the East/West and Northern Lists, boasting a gross output of 108%, also illustrates the benefit of growing a trait-loaded variety.

“Thanks to seventh-generation hybrid breeding, LG Adapt combines high yield potential with an exceptional trait package, including pod shatter resistance, TuYV resistance, RLM7, and Stem Health,” she says.

“Its adaptability across all regions of the UK, alongside excellent stem health and oil content of 46.4%, make it a compelling option for growers wanting to manage risk and maximise returns.”

A Crop Worth Reconsidering

With better market prices, reduced pest pressure and breeding advances that can lower growing costs, OSR is once again becoming an increasingly viable option, particularly following barley where it offers valuable rotational benefits.

As Ms Gibbs at United Oilseeds (UOM) points out, the outlook for OSR is improving and growers now have more tools and knowledge at their disposal than ever before to grow the crop successfully.

For many, OSR has been a crop to avoid in recent years — but that sentiment may be about to change.

More information

Technical and agronomic data from trials and on-farm is available on all our OSR varieties in the LG Arable Guide, download here

To learn more about LG Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle Resilience and claim BASIS and NRoSO points, you can read our whitepaper here.

Located just outside Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, Rob Atkin manages a 1,000-acre farm with a focus on arable cropping and grass -fed, home-reared cattle. As a third-generation farmer, he works alongside his father Peter, combining experience with a practical, forward-thinking approach to land management.

The farm operates across a wide range of soil types, from organic-rich alluvial soils to heavier, more challenging clays; Mixed – light alluvial (9–12% OM) to heavy clay (3–4% OM).

To maintain soil structure and workability, Rob has used a shallow tillage system since 2003, working to a depth of 10–15 cm, but remains flexible — what he refers to as “thoughtful farming” — adjusting his methods according to seasonal and soil conditions.

The cropping strategy is designed around maximising first wheat performance while maintaining oilseed rape (OSR) as a break crop just once every five years. The rotation includes wheat, barley (winter and spring), oats, beans, maize, and OSR. Cattle are fed using home-grown rations based on forage maize and beans, contributing to a fully integrated farm system.

How many different varieties are grown and how long is a variety grown for?

Wheat: LG Beowulf, LG Rebellion, Oxford, Bamford, LG Typhoon
Winter Barley: LG Caravelle
Spring Barley: LG Diablo, Planet, Skyway
Oats: Ascani
Beans: LG Raptor (spring), Tundra (winter)
Maize: KWS Leto, LG Gema

Rob grows a wide range of varieties tailored to different roles in the rotation.

His current wheat portfolio includes LG Beowulf, LG Rebellion, Oxford, Bamford, and LG Typhoon, grown for feed and marketed through Openfield and ADM. He aims for around 8.5t/ha.

“A variety is typically grown for two to three years to assess performance across different seasons. If it continues to deliver strong results, it remains in the programme until yield performance begins to decline,” he explains.

Barley plays a smaller role in the rotation, with 13–14 ha of winter barley (currently LG Caravelle) and around 80 ha of spring barley split between LG Diablo, Planet, and Skyway.

OSR remains an important break crop, typically covering 50–60 ha. While the farm has long favoured Dekalb hybrids, this season Rob is trialling LG Armada and LG Avenger to evaluate their performance.
Rob prefers to use local trials when looking at new varieties to grow. “ We are an Agrii iFarm and host trials for then, so that gives us an invaluable insight to how varieties will grow on our farm, I also judge for the Staffordshire Agricultural Society so get to visit farms in the region and look at a range of different varieties that way.”

What characteristics are most important to you when choosing a variety?

For Rob, yield remains a key priority — but not at any cost. He looks for varieties that offer good performance without needing excessive inputs.

“Yield is always important,” he says, “but I want that to come without ridiculously high inputs— we are not interested in a variety that requires high spend to push for yields.”

High disease resistance is just as critical. “That’s really linked to yield and just as important,” he adds.

Crop vigour is another major consideration, both in autumn and spring. “I’d much rather be managing a forward crop in March than trying to catch one up.”

Early drilling suitability rounds out the main criteria, as drilling around the third week of September is standard practice on the farm. “Any later than this and crops just don’t have the time to get the tillers on before the winter.”

1. Yield
2. Disease resistance
3. Vigour
4. Early driller

Have these characteristics, or weight of importance, changed over recent years?

No! Rob believes his priorities in variety selection have remained consistent. While environmental and regulatory pressures may be evolving, the fundamental traits he values have stayed the same.

“It’s always been about finding the right balance between yield and reliable agronomics,” he says.

Why LG varieties?

LG varieties feature strongly in Rob’s rotation because they offer a practical combination of yield and agronomic strength.

“In my view, LG produces farmer-friendly varieties,” he explains. “They’re high yielding, but they’re also clean, vigorous, and manageable. That gives us a kind of yield security — and that’s worth a lot.”

He also values how clearly LG varieties are positioned in terms of agronomy and management. “Take LG Typhoon — it’s well suited to early drilling, and it’s a very clean variety. You know where it fits and how to get the best out of it.”

How have the varieties performed this season?

Crops are performing well so far, with low disease pressure across all varieties. Rob reports that the season has allowed for a reduction in fungicide inputs, helping to control costs without compromising crop health.

“Disease levels have been low this year, so we dropped the T0 spray. We’ll go in with a T2 as the flag leaf pulls away from the ear — what I call a ‘head & shoulders’ spray.”

To compensate for the lighter fungicide programme, Rob has focused on supporting plant health through nutrition:

• Nitrogen: All wheat crops receive around 200 kg/ha in three splits, with early applications of sulphur
• Micronutrients: Particular attention is paid to managing trace elements, especially on the alluvial soils where nutrient availability can be more variable
• Spring applications: Crops received boron, sulphur, magnesium, and manganese to support key growth stages

“On the light soils, trace elements like magnesium and manganese are critical. If they’re not available when the plant needs them, it shows.”

“Among the wheats LG Beowulf and LG Rebellion are looking very clean this spring, and in the dry conditions appear to be holding on better than other varieties.”

OSR crops are also showing promise, supported by slurry applications pre-drilling and targeted spring nutrition.

“LG Armada has held onto its petals just that little but longer than other varieties, so hopefully this will play out in numbers of pods.”

• Early slurry helps establish strong root systems
• Spring sulphur is applied to maintain growth and yield potential
• A cost-effective fungicide approach is used — selecting varieties with good phoma and sclerotinia resistance is essential

“We don’t overspend on fungicides for OSR — that’s why varietal resistance is a key factor for us.”

Ryan McCormack is the Farm Manager at Dennington Hall Farms based in Suffolk. Dennington Hall Farms is a 1,600ha combinable crops and sugar beet operation.

Since joining the business in May 2022, Ryan has developed a diverse cropping rotation, set a new machinery strategy to suit a regenerative approach and is creating a forward-thinking team culture.

With a key focus on soil, air and water health, Ryan now operates a 12-year cropping rotation, integrating grazing livestock across arable land, moving to variable rate liquid fertiliser, reduced tillage and a block of Wildfarmed Bi-cropping.

Ryan is BASIS and FACTS qualified and has a continued passion for data, innovation and technology. He achieved silver in the British Farming Awards, ‘Arable Innovation’ award in 2019 and is a member of the 68th Worshipful Company of Farmers. Ryan completed his Advanced Business Management Course in 2018.

Introduction

Dennington Hall Farms is a family-run 1,600-ha heavy land farm in east Suffolk, that has recently transitioned to a regenerative farming system as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible land stewardship.

There is a particular focus on building the health of the predominantly heavy clay soils, promoting biodiversity, and sequestering carbon, through a range of techniques, including; reduced tillage, cover and catch crops, a diverse 12-year rotation, and managed grazing.

Cropping includes; winter wheat (mainly Group 4s for local feed markets), oats, spring barley, winter barley, sugar beet, vining peas, beans, mustard, oilseed rape, plus Wildfarmed bi-crops, cover and catch crops. Livestock – sheep from a neighbouring farm – are also integrated to graze cover crops.

How many different varieties are grown and how long would you grow a variety for?

This season, the farm is growing around 15 different varieties across all crops, plus several blends. Varieties include:

• Wheat: LG Typhoon, LG Redwald, LG Beowulf, Champion, KWS Extase, KWS Dawsum
• Winter barley: KWS Tardis, LG Caravelle
• Spring barley: LG Aquarius
• OSR: Campus
• Spring oats: WPB Isabel
• Three-way wheat blend trial of LG Redwald, Champion, and KWS Dawsum
• Wildfarmed blend of spring wheat, and Laureate spring barley
• One variety each of beans, mustard and vining peas

Farm manager Ryan McCormack says a variety is usually grown for three or four years (assuming no disasters in year one), before deciding whether to replace it with something else.

“That decision depends how strongly it has performed; there’s no real timescale for how long we’ll keep any variety for. Generally, we’ve got four or five mainstream varieties, and every year we look at what’s new, what’s going to work for us, and then replace the weakest of those main varieties.”

Sometimes a new variety may be trialled on a small 30-40ha area first if there are potential question marks over how it might perform, but he may also commit a whole 100ha block if confident in its potential – as was the case with LG Beowulf and LG Typhoon this season.

What characteristics are most important to you when choosing a variety?

While yield is important, Mr McCormack’s aim is to select varieties that also have good agronomics and characteristics to suit the specific requirements of different parts of the varied rotation.

“After sugar beet, for example, we’re looking for something that gets up and away quickly, and has high vigour, even if sown late into sub-optimal conditions, which is where LG Redwald fits in.

“On other parts of the rotation, we’re looking at lowering our inputs and reducing cultivations, so that’s why LG Typhoon was chosen, as it can be direct drilled, knowing that we’ll get a good plant stand – it has that agronomic advantage over some other varieties.”

Have these characteristics, or weight of importance, changed over recent years?

The farm’s approach to variety selection has evolved with the move to regenerative farming, Mr McCormack says, with greater focus now given to finding the agronomic characteristics that suit specific situations, to improve yield security.

“Traditionally the farm would have been more intensively cultivated, drilled early, looking primarily for high yields, and not necessarily focused on agronomics, gross margin, or soil health when looking at varieties.

“But in recent years, we’ve been focusing much more on gross margin and the other aspects that varieties can bring to the party, not necessarily just looking for ‘barn fillers’. Yield is still important, but it’s about finding varieties that also have good agronomics that suit our soils and the situations we’re putting them in.”

Why have you chosen LG varieties?

This season, Dennington Hall Farms is growing 100ha blocks of three Limagrain varieties, LG Typhoon, LG Beowulf, and LG Redwald.

LG Typhoon was chosen primarily for its suitability to wider-row regen-type systems, says Mr McCormack. “We wanted a variety we could scratch in, or direct drill after legumes, and LG Typhoon seems to be the choice for regenerative farming, given it can go into a very min-till, or direct-drill situation and produce a good plant stand. Agronomically it’s very pleasing and has good yield potential.

“It has definitely got different characteristics to other varieties; it spreads and stays quite flat to the ground over winter, which is good for wider rows, or direct drilling scenarios, where you want a developed canopy to smother any grassweeds before stems start extending.”

He also values LG Typhoon’s suitability for earlier drilling. “We’re not drilling really early, but typically look to start in the first week of October with LG Typhoon, and aim to finish by the end of October.”

LG Redwald, grown for the first time in 2023/24, was chosen for its vigour when being sown later in the autumn after sugar beet. “LG Redwald is known for being very vigorous, and might seem a risky choice for highly fertile, heavy soils, but if it’s being drilled late into a sub-standard seedbed after sugar beet, you want that extra vigour to grow away and still yield well.”

Another new addition this season is LG Beowulf, grown as a first-wheat after oilseed rape. “I saw it twice in trials last year and for me, it was the stand-out variety for its agronomics, yield potential, and vigour,” says Mr McCormack. “I’d describe it as the ‘heavy land LG Redwald’.

“LG Beowulf is clean, high yielding, and has good vigour, but suits our fertile, heavy soils. It’s everything we want from a variety right now.”

LG Redwald also features in a three-way blend alongside Champion and Dawsum, which is being trialled to see if mixing genetics and agronomics can help reduce disease pressure, improve plant stand, and maximise yield.

The farm is heavily into conservation, so avoids using insecticides wherever possible, therefore having Orange Wheat Blossom Midge resistance in all three Limagrain varieties helps in that respect, Mr McCormack notes.

How are the varieties performing to date and have you managed them differently this season?

At the time of writing, approaching the T2 timing in mid-May, Mr McCormack says the 100-ha of LG Beowulf after oilseed rape looks the strongest of the wheats.

“It looked well all winter and early spring, although the lack of rain is a concern for all crops. Coming into spring, it looked like a 12 t/ha crop of wheat, but if I had to put a figure on yield now, I’d say it’d be nearer 11 t/ha, which is still very good. That might reduce to 10 t/ha if we don’t get any rain in the next three weeks though.”

Mr McCormack says a different establishment approach was tried on some fields of LG Beowulf this season, whereby a summer catch crop went in after the OSR harvest, which was mob grazed with a neighbour’s sheep, before direct drilling LG Beowulf on 27/28 October. “That’s later than most people would drill first-wheat after oilseed rape, but it was a good opportunity to bring a catch crop and livestock into the rotation. It also improved soil resilience to a spell of heavy rain in mid-October.”

Given the dry spring, the LG Beowulf has only received liquid fertiliser, while other varieties have had a 50:50 split of granular and liquid fertiliser.

Disease pressure has been relatively low across all varieties, with no real issues seen thus far, other than odd incidences of rust and Septoria, Mr McCormack says. As a result, he has been able to reduce fungicide spending at the T0 and T1 timings, adjusting both product choices and rates to risk and yield potential.

The later-sown LG Redwald has so far received the lowest fungicide input, reflecting the fact that yield potential has been compromised by an estimated 1-1.5 t/ha due to late sowing after beet, and a very dry spring, he says. The more open canopy also means ground has dried out slightly more than in the other LG wheats where larger canopies have provided more of a shading effect, he notes.

While fungicide inputs have been reduced overall, this has been supported with additional micronutrients, such as manganese and magnesium, to build plant health and natural disease resilience.

Mr McCormack says LG Typhoon has stayed true to its characteristics, remaining close to the ground in early spring, before a dramatic change in late April/early May as growth started to extend upwards.

“Now it’s looking good, and more vigorous. If I had to put a yield on it at this stage, I’d say it’s on the ‘good’ spectrum, at around 10 t/ha, providing we get some much-needed rain in the next few weeks.”

The blend trial looks well, although he admits the dry conditions have not really tested the aims of the trial. “We haven’t had the disease pressure, nor have we been increasing fertiliser due to massive yield potential, so it’s hard to judge performance. Crops look well from the field edge, but once you get into them, you often find they haven’t put huge amounts of biomass on.”

Finally, if a breeder gave you three wishes for varietal traits what would they be?

One key trait would be to have mainstream wheat varieties with resistance to barley/cereal yellow dwarf viruses (BYDV), to remove the need for using any insecticides in the autumn, says Mr McCormack.

Ergot is another issue that can be “a bit hit and miss”, so removing that through varietal breeding would be beneficial, he says. Another is gout fly resistance, as that seems to be becoming an increasing issue, he adds.

“Finally, if I were to fast forward 20 years, we’d be looking to grow varieties that allow us to be fully self-sufficient, so we’re not having to buy in lots of fertiliser and we can supply the nutrients required.”

As experienced contractors and longstanding maize growers in their own right, Martin Evans Farming know all about the importance of good variety selection.

In their own case, very early maturity is a key priority, to ensure harvest is underway by the end of September so that following crops can be established in good time.

They also require consistent performance, with starch and energy levels as high as possible to underpin the ration of their 1,500-cow herd of high performing pedigree Holsteins.

“Maize is the mainstay of the forage ration for our milking herd, making up around 60% alongside grass silage,” explains Josh Evans. “The higher the quality, the better, as it reduces other feed costs, but we’re also focused on crops reaching full maturity early. We always aim to establish a following crop to cover the ground over the winter, whether that’s after maize grown within a rotation or a crop that’s grown continuously. It’s important to prevent soil erosion over winter, and to have a crop in the ground to minimise any leaching of nutrients.”

Martin Evans Farming, based at Priddbwll Mawr, Llangedwyn, near Oswestry, usually grows between 500 and 600 acres of maize each year, most of it as part of an arable rotation and typically followed by winter wheat. The remainder is grown on ground suited to continuous maize, where the usual practice is to follow it with an over-winter cover crop, such as a Westerwolds and Italian ryegrass blend.

The farm’s agronomist, Ian Evans of BCW Agriculture Ltd (Frontier), provides guidance on varieties, with the 2024 acreage largely being drilled with the very early variety Skipper or the slightly later maturing Saxon, both from Limagrain and bred through the company’s robust and extensive UK screening and testing programme.

“With such a large and important maize acreage, we’re looking for varieties that will reliably get up and out of the ground, and stand up and perform in terms of yield, starch and energy,” Josh explains. “Skipper meets all these criteria, and as it is very early – often selected to perform in more marginal areas – it delivers the early harvest. Saxon has similar attributes, but is slightly later and therefore a better option for our lighter ground.”

The Priddbwll Holsteins are split into two herds, one milked through a rotary and one through a semi-rapid exit parlour, calving all year round. Milked three times daily, the cows are averaging around 13,000 litres/lactation.

“A typical milking ration will contain 22kg of maize silage and 16kg of grass silage, with rape, wheat, ground maize and a protein blend making up the mix,” adds Josh. “The maize is a primary source of energy, so we are trying to maximise the amount we include in the diet.

“It’s important that we fill the clamps with as good a quality crop as possible, so we need reliably performing varieties, and we do the best job we can with everything from seed bed preparation through to nutrition.”

The maize ground at Priddbwll Mawr benefits from applications of either farmyard manure, slurry or poultry muck, so baseline soil nutrition is good. After ploughing at 8-10 inches, the ground is sub-soiled, usually between 14 and 18 inches, and then power harrowed to create a fine tilth.

“We’ll go over with the power harrow twice if necessary, in order to create the seedbed conditions that we need,” says Josh. “There’s little to be gained trying to cut corners with seedbed preparation.”

Drilling date is dictated by the season, but would be as early as 24th April if conditions allowed. In 2024, with cold and damp conditions dominating until beyond the end of April, drilling was delayed until 12th May, further underlying the importance of selecting early maturing varieties like Skipper to counter harvesting delays due to seasonal conditions. As with variety selection, agronomist Ian Evans advises on any further inputs, with the farm using both pre- and post-emergence herbicides to ensure all crops have a clean start.

With base level soil nutrition underpinned by the application of the farm’s own manures, any additional fertilisers are for targeted use, designed to help early establishment and deliver a boost when the crop needs it most. To this end, a starter fertiliser is applied down the spout at drilling, at a rate of 125kg/ha, delivering nitrogen, phosphate and key trace elements. Then, at around 6-8 weeks, Josh has seen benefits from the use of the slow-release urea Nutrino Pro, applied as a foliar spray.

“We’ve used the liquid fertiliser over the last couple of years and it’s something we’ll continue as it seems to give the crops an advantage.”

Harvest date is determined with the help of Ian Evans, with the optimum dry matter range being between 28 and 32% in order to optimise the starch percentage, metabolisable energy (ME) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) available to the dairy cows.

“Even in what has been a difficult year for growing maize, we’ve harvested a mature crop in good time and have what we need in the clamps,” Josh concludes.

Learn more about our high performance maize varieties here or contact your usual seed merchant for availability

Download the Maize Variety Selection Guide here

Despite traditionally being regarded as a niche crop in Scotland due its requirement for warm soils and long hours of sunshine, an increasing number of growers north of the border are successfully harvesting maize as a reliable source of winter forage for livestock.

“With careful planning and attention to detail, early maturing maize varieties can produce consistently high yields of dry matter, starch and easily metabolisable energy,” explains Tim Richmond, Maize Manager for Limagrain Field Seeds UK and Ireland.

The latest generation of ultra early varieties means maize is now a viable forage crop for some Scottish growers.

“Thanks to significant investment in maize breeding programmes, Scottish growers now have the option to grow maize without having to drill crops under plastic and without automatically having to sacrifice yield or crop quality in order to secure a safe and early harvest.

“In fact, many growers in Scotland, typically in the Borders but also further north, have achieved good yields from varieties such as Gema, Dignity and Skipper, all of which are able to produce cost-effective crops in a shorter growing season. In the right conditions, all three can be drilled in May and harvested successfully in October, leaving sufficient time for a following catch crop such as forage rye to be grown before the next maize cycle begins. And with the next generation of ultra early varieties such as Duke which has an even shorter growing season, yield, quality and earliness of harvest are even easier to achieve.”

In addition to a variety which matures early and can therefore be harvested in favourable conditions, and which has a high lodging resistance rating to enable it to cope with unfavourable weather conditions, the key to growing a good crop of maize in Scotland is to ensure crops are drilled into a well-prepared seedbed which has warmed to at least 8oC for at least five consecutive days.

“How well a crop performs at harvest ultimately comes down to how it was cared for in its infancy,” Tim continues. “Even the very best genetics can’t compensate for poor soil preparation, a lack of nutrients or seed which hasn’t been drilled to the correct depth, so attention to detail and selecting the right location is vital to ensuring the crop’s success.

“A sheltered location with free draining soils and preferably with a south facing aspect will be beneficial, with growers also advised to work with an experienced maize contractor and agronomist before jumping into growing maize for the first time,” Tim adds. “And growers should also do their own homework to make sure they’re using a suitable variety. The first port of call should be to study the independent data provided by the BSPB/NIAB Forage Maize Descriptive List to create a shortlist of potential varieties, but growers can also access free tools such as the LG Seeds Maize Manager App to determine which variety or varieties are suited to their specific location.”

The LG Maize Manager App simplifies the decision about which variety to grow.

The Maize Manager App uses the latest trials data and postcode-specific Met Office data to calculate Ontario Heat Unit accumulations for the specified location and processes this information to recommend relevant varieties. In doing so, growers can easily select the optimum variety for their location. The App also features a Sowing Manager tool which calculates the optimum seeding rate for the chosen variety, and a Maturity Manager to determine if the selected location is likely to receive sufficient heat units to grow maize and to advice the optimum date for harvest.

“Growers can also find most of the information they need in the LG Maize Variety Selection Guide,” Tim concludes. “As well as making maize variety choice simple, this handy guide also provides a wealth of crop establishment and nutritional advice, as well as some key pointers in terms of bird, insect and disease control.”

More info

For the BSPB/NIAB Forage Maize Descriptive List, click here

To download the LG Maize Manager App from Apple, click here

To download the LG Maize Manager App from Google Play, click here

To view the 2025 LG Maize Variety Selection Guide, click here

Fodder beet is a long-standing and valuable fodder crop on many sheep and cattle farms and its popularity continues.

So says Limagrain forage crop manager John Spence, who quotes 25 years of trial data comparing long standing UK fodder beet varieties and more modern varieties that demonstrate how this crop has stood the test of time.

“It’s noted for its high energy and high feed value,” says John. “Results all show that dry matter and energy yields are consistent, regardless of growing conditions.

“Even in the more climatically challenging conditions of the past few years with long dry periods and, at times, very wet conditions, yields and feed value have not wavered much.”

Fodder beet will yield more than 80 tonnes per hectare of fresh weight, with some varieties well above this and around the 100 tonnes of fresh weight level per hectare.

The average metabolisable energy content for fodder beet varieties trialled annually by Limagrain is consistently 12.5 to 13 MJ/kg DM. “This fodder crop has the highest dry matter and energy yielding crop per hectare available among commonly grown forages in the UK,” adds John.

Depending on the feeding system and the climate, farmers can also consider bolting risks, and choose a variety least likely to bolt, or disease resistance.

“And there are varieties that are rhizomania tolerant and are selected to be less susceptible to mildew, rust and leafspot,” he adds.

Flexi forage

Fodder beet offers the ultimate among other crops when it comes to flexibility. It can be stored in the group over winter and lifted as required, lifted and stored in open clamps, or fed in situ if conditions are suitable.

“Many dairy farmers store fodder beet in clamps then clean it if necessary and chop it into a TMR. Medium rooted varieties are ideal for this as they carry less risk of soil contamination compared with deeper- rooted varieties.”

Fodder beet slots into grass or arable rotations as a break crop. It’s sown in April, possibly after a first cut or early spring grazing, or a cereal crop, into a well-prepared seed bed.

“It’s a demanding crop in terms of nutrients,” he adds. “Land destined for fodder beet will benefit from farm year manure and slurry, and nitrogen can be applied after drilling where necessary.”

It’s also important to keep on top of pests and weeds. “We supply seed treated with a fungicide and pesticide with the option of seed priming to aid germination and get plants off to a good start. But herbicide treatments and fungicides will be required depending on conditions.”

While fodder beet requires quite a few inputs, with growing costs have been estimated to be at least £16 a tonne fresh weight, the yields and feed value make this crop cost-effective.

“And there are added benefits of including fodder beet in the rotation, and of being able to reduce the reliance on bought-in feeds.

“Once farmers introduce this forage, they rarely move away from it. Its flexibility, feed value and consistency make it an attractive option.”

‘More crops like this’

Fodder beet is a staple crop at Marsh Farm, near Alford, east Lincolnshire where it is used in a TMR for dairy cows and also fed with cereals to the beef cattle. Darren Brown grows 12-hecatres (30 acres) of the crop every year which produces about 100 tonnes per hectare (40t/acre) of fresh weight a year.

As well as being a valuable feed, Darren finds fodder beet an ideal break crop for winter and spring cereals, and it slots into the rotation with the grassland. “We’re on clay loam so it’s marginal for fodder beet really, but the crop does consistently well every year.”

Fodder beet follows a cereal crop – typically winter wheat. Pre- sowing, the land is ploughed in autumn, then flat lifted across the plough to loosen the soil and allow for easy root development

Harvesting starts in late October until the end of February and precedes spring barley. He uses one of two local contractors. “The good thing is that we can lift beet as we need it and when conditions are OK. It stores well in mother nature’s larder – in the ground, and in a pile once it’s lifted. It’s very flexible.”

Whatever the growing conditions, the experience in growing and feeding fodder beet at Marsh Farm is good. “Despite different challenges, there’s little fluctuation in yield and feed quality. We’ve had dry summers and wet autumns, but yields and quality don’t seem to vary,” adds Darren. “We could do with more crops like this.”

He attributes some of his success with fodder beet to choice of variety; he’s opted for Limagrain’s Robbos since 2019.

“We ‘dabbled’ with other varieties but come back to Robbos as it’s consistent and reliable. It’s got a clean root and it’s not deep into the ground which makes harvesting, cleaning and feeding easier.”

More info

Maximising methane output is the primary objective when running an anaerobic digester and, for the Channing family, that means growing the most consistent and high-quality maize feedstock across 1,000 variable acres. Good advice, on-farm analysis and growing the best varieties all play a part in success.

Consistency is key to maximising ad feedstock value

Running a 500kW anaerobic digester fuelled solely by maize, Alistair Channing has – over the past nine years – learned more about growing the crop than most.

From soils to crop sample analysis, he’s left no stone unturned to achieve not only high yields, but also consistency and quality, all in a remarkably short harvest window.

For most of this time, he has worked collaboratively with the specialist maize team at Limagrain, benefiting from agronomic advice, using an assortment of their varieties, and even hosting crop trials.

Alistair Channing grows 1,000 acres of maize as the sole source of feed for his 500kW AD

“We’re growing 1,000 acres of maize in total, half on our own land and half coming from six neighbouring farms,” explains Alistair. “There is naturally a variation in soil types and soil fertility across this acreage, not least because maize is a break crop on most of the neighbouring farms, so the challenge is to have it all, as far as possible, reaching optimum maturity at the same time.

“At one time we grew maize for dairy cows and growing for AD is basically the same. We want an optimum dry matter of 32% and good levels of starch and digestibility in order to maximise the methane output.

“Over the last eight years, average yields on our home ground sit at 18.8t/acre, compared with 17.35t/acre on the other farms.”

In 2024, the 1,000 acre maize harvest for Channing Digester was completed between the 2nd and 6th October, this being at the better end of their target of 5-7 days.

A dry matter of 32% and good levels of starch and digestibility help to maximise methane output from maize.

“Firstly, we select varieties to suit the soil type and the soil fertility, generally earlier maturing types but it depends on the fields, and this helps to achieve consistent maturity dates,” Alistair continues. “This year harvest was a little later than the norm, largely due to conditions in the spring forcing later drilling, but we were still ahead of most other growers. Working with a reliable contractor that runs two full teams is certainly a big part of hitting our objectives.”

At the Channing’s own farm at Brandon Grange near Coventry, where they once grew a lot of potatoes, the sandy loam soils are generally well-suited to growing maize. Varieties this year have included relatively late maturing types, such as LG31.207, but also one of the newer very early varieties, Promise. By matching varieties to soil type and fertility, the aim is to have everything mature at the same time, as close to 32% dry matter as possible.

“Every trailer goes over a weighbridge and we sample every second or third load to measure the dry matter,” says Alistair. “We have our own mobile laboratory to carry out NIR (near infra-red) spectroscopy and also check dry matters in an oven. Payments are made on weights adjusted to 32% dry matter and we want to be scrupulously fair to all parties.”

Yields range from 17.35 to 18.8t/acre depending on soil type and fertility across the farmed acreage.

Consistency in crop yields and maturity is also achieved with a standardised approach to growing, as far as possible. All maize grown for Channing Digester now has to be sown with a maize drill, with DAP (diammonium phosphate) applied down the spout, and there is a collaborative approach to variety selection. At Brandon Grange Farm, maize is now grown with tramlines, allowing digestate to be used between the rows and the application of late nitrogen. Foliar applied nutrition has also been used.

“We’re constantly looking to improve the way we grow maize, with developments such as slow-release nitrogen under consideration,” adds Alistair.

Growing maize sustainably has always been a priority for the Channings, and the early harvest is important as it allows the establishment of a cover crop, which now enables the farm to qualify for an SFI payment.

“We usually use a mixture of spring oats and mustard, which we seek to establish soon after the maize comes off,” concludes Alistair. “We see this as a green manure, and destroy it mechanically, preferring not to use glyphosate, usually in February. This leaves ample time to apply digestate before preparing the ground for the next crop.

“It’s all about doing the job the best way that we can.”

ROBUST CROPPING PLAN ESSENTIAL

With the government’s Green Gas Support Scheme open to applications until March 2028, interest in growing maize as an important part of the feedstock for biomethane plants remains high.

According to Tim Richmond, Maize Manager for Limagrain Field Seeds UK & Ireland, AD plants are increasing in scale, but the principles around growing a crop remain very much the same.

“Whatever the size of the operation, maximum efficiency will be achieved when all the maize is harvested at the optimum dry matter, and as early in the season as possible,” he says. “A robust cropping plan is even more important for someone that may be harvesting as much as 10,000 acres to supply a biomethane plant.

“After a harvest like 2024, the importance of early maturing varieties cannot be emphasised enough. Avoiding a wet and muddy harvest should be a priority within that cropping plan. Furthermore, early harvests will allow the establishment of cover crops, which is first and foremost best practice but now has the added benefit of an SFI payment.”

When it comes to the suitability of varieties for AD, Limagrain does test varieties for gas output, but as important is the anecdotal evidence coming back from the many plants that the company is working with.

“Often the advice is to grow a range of varieties, tailored to soil type and conditions, that will deliver 32% dry matter within a safe harvest window, with the starch level and cell wall digestibility to maximise gas production,” he adds. “We have a lot of experience of supporting biomethane plant operators, not just in choice of varieties but also how to grow maize to achieve the best outputs.”

Find out more

Learn more about our high performance maize varieties here or contact your usual seed merchant for availability

Download the Maize Variety Selection Guide here

With soil temperatures warming, growers are already drilling spring pulses, or at least thinking about it!

Security of yield has never been more critical. We asked Heather Oldfield, Cereals and Pulses Product Manager, to share some key points for growers to consider;

• Seed-to-soil contact is crucial for germination, early growth, and overall yield. Don’t rush!
• Waiting an extra week can help with soil temperatures and avoid seeds sitting in a cold, damp seedbed.
• More favourable conditions mean better early growth, root development, and Nitrogen fixation.
• For optimal spring bean yields aim for 45-55 established plants per square metre. It’s important to consider field losses when deciding on the drilling rate, the conditions will always affect this.
• Green (Blue) and Yellow (White) peas have the best chance of achieving good yields when 80-90 plants per square metre are established.

Varietal choice is key to meet end market requirements, and achieve good returns. The right variety choice can make all the difference;

Beans

LG Viper — This variety has the best standing ability, and Downy Mildew and Rust tolerance available on the PGRO Descriptive List 2025. It is not the highest yielding, but farmers appreciate its consistent performance on farm.

LG Raptor — High yield potential combined with early maturity and good standing ability. It is a great variety option for a bi-cropping situation when combined with the spring pea variety LG Aviator, the two complement each other well. Watch out for the on-farm case studies – coming soon!

LG Eagle – The show’s star, topping the PGRO Descriptive List 2025. Sadly, all seeds are being used for multiplication in 2025, but please place orders early for LG Eagle in 2026 to avoid disappointment!

Peas

LG Aviator – A high yielding large blue pea with good Downy Mildew tolerance and powdery mildew resistance – not a common trait for a combining pea.

LG Corvet – New to this year’s PGRO Descriptive List, a high yielding Yellow (White) pea. Offering the best Downy Mildew tolerance in the White pea sector combined with early maturity and good standing. The variety has performed well and consistently in 3 very different trial years.

More info