Welcome to your LG Conservation & Gamecover Crops Brochure

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In this catalogue, you’ll find a comprehensive range of mixtures designed for soil health and nutrient management, such as herbal leys and legume fallows, crops for integrated pest management,
such as flower rich margins and companion crops, crops for farmland wildlife, such as winter bird food mixtures, and crops for field margins and buffer strips.

We hope you find this brochure a valuable resource, as you identify the options and crops that best suit your business needs. If you’d like further guidance, our team is always available to help you choose mixtures that will work best for your farm.

Take a look at our Essential Guide to Conservation & Gamecover Crops today.

Spring management key for forward oilseed rape crops

A mild autumn delivered excellent establishment conditions for oilseed rape (OSR) crops across much of the UK. While many crops are entering spring with large, forward canopies, careful management will be essential to ensure this strong start is converted into yield rather than lost through lodging or inefficient canopy structure.

Liam Wilkinson, head of technical at Limagrain Field Seeds UK, says that although big crops look encouraging, they can be counter-productive if not actively managed.

“From our own work, we know that the optimal OSR plant population is around 25–40 plants/m²,” he explains. “In previous seasons, growers often compensated for establishment losses by increasing seed rates. This year, however, losses have been far lower, meaning many crops are carrying plant populations well above the optimum.”

Without intervention, these dense, forward canopies can limit light interception, increase competition between plants and raise the risk of lodging, ultimately capping yield potential.

Tailoring spring management

Mr Wilkinson stresses that large crops require a different approach to thinner stands seen in recent years. “These crops need to be managed to control canopy size and structure, reduce lodging risk and maximise light penetration to the lower branches – which are the most productive in terms of pod set,” he says.

Varietal growth habit should also be considered when prioritising treatments: “Some varieties, such as LG Avenger, have faster stem extension and are more likely to benefit from early canopy management. “Others, like LG Adapt, extend later and may be less of a priority in early spring. Soil temperature is another factor – where soils are warmer, the urgency for early treatment is reduced.”

Nitrogen management: measure before you apply

Work from AHDB project PR447 has shown that adjusting nitrogen (N) applications according to canopy size can increase yields by up to 0.36 t/ha in crops that would otherwise have lodged under traditional management.

“The key message is that OSR canopies already contain significant amounts of nitrogen, which can be remobilised by the plant,” says Mr Wilkinson.

“Ignoring this risks over-application early in the season, driving excessive stem elongation and canopy shading.”

To help growers get the most from forward crops this spring, Limagrain highlights five key management principles:

1. Measure and quantify the canopy
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Tools such as GAI apps or satellite imagery can be used, where 1 GAI equates to around 50 kg N/ha in the canopy. Alternatively, cutting and weighing 1 m² of above-ground biomass can provide a guide – 1 kg fresh weight is approximately equivalent to 55 kg N/ha.

2. Reduce the first split of nitrogen
High early N rates encourage rapid stem extension, increasing shading and plant competition. This often leads to the loss of lower branches, which have the greatest yield potential. Early assessment of biomass variation also allows nitrogen rates to be reduced in thicker areas and increased where crops are thinner.

3. Target a GAI of 3.5 at flowering
This equates to around 175 kg N/ha in the canopy. Knowing how much nitrogen is already present can help avoid unnecessary inputs. AHDB PR447 suggests that only around 60% of spring-applied nitrogen is taken up by the crop, so application rates should be adjusted accordingly.

4. Ensure timely sulphur supply
Reducing nitrogen rates also reduces sulphur when using combined products such as double top. Sulphur deficiency can limit yield by slowing leaf and tissue development, reducing nitrogen use efficiency, lowering stress tolerance and decreasing oil content. Choose a product supplying around 40–75 kg/ha of SO₃.

5. Apply micronutrients early
Boron is particularly important in forward crops. Deficiency during rapid spring growth can lead to stem splitting, increasing disease risk. Boron also plays a key role in pollination and stress tolerance, supporting yield and crop resilience.

“With the right approach, these forward crops offer a real opportunity,” concludes Mr Wilkinson. “By measuring canopies and tailoring inputs, growers can manage risk, improve efficiency and make the most of the strong establishment we’ve seen this season.”

Maize has been grown for grain at Cross Hill Farm, near Goole in Yorkshire, for over fifteen years, delivering multiple benefits for the Welburn family’s arable and cattle enterprises.

It is a valuable break crop, particularly complementing winter wheat, and – crimped and clamped – provides an ideal high energy feed for the farm’s 400-head beef finishing enterprise. Crimped maize is also sold off the farm, adding a further revenue stream, and in recent years the crop has also been ensiled for forage.

In total, Chris Welburn and his father Neil farm up to 600ha of rented or contract farmed land, with soil types varying from wind blow sand through to heavy clay. Winter wheat is their main crop, but on some of the neighbouring contract farmed land, where flooding is a common issue, spring cropping predominates, with maize proving to be a reliable and valuable option over many years.

“We’ve grown maize since around 2009, and have always combined it,” says Chris. “On the lighter land, we’ll grow it several years in a row, then swapping in alternative spring crops like sugar beet, carrots or potatoes, whilst on the heavier land it will be part of a more conventional arable rotation, with winter wheat.

“Across all the land we’re farming, we’re growing around 150ha of maize. Over and above the value of the crimped grain, we find it puts quite a bit back into the farm, both in terms of soil fertility and also wider weed control.

“Growing it for grain means a lot of crop residue is going back into the soil, whilst we always precede a maize crop with good applications of cattle manure, which is another good source of organic matter and soil nutrients.  

“Weed control for maize uses different herbicide chemistry, and we find that is helping with the control of blackgrass and other grass weeds in the wheat.”

Variety choice is important, particularly when growing a crop for grain, and Chris’s current ‘banker’ is Limagrain’s Conclusion, a high yielding, high starch option with exceptional cell wall digestibility. He’s also growing the earlier maturing Duke, which alongside high dry matter yields has very low cob moisture content making it particularly well suited for grain. LG 31.205, known for high starch and well-developed cobs, is another variety favoured at Cross Hill Farm in recent seasons, whilst the latest high performance specialist grain option LG 31.160 is set to be included going forward. 

“Our Conclusion crops produced over 11t/ha of grain maize in 2025, and it wasn’t a particularly good year given the drought conditions,” adds Chris. “The other important point about Conclusion, and other Limagrain varieties, like Duke and Ambition, is that they crimp really nicely. It’s important, because it affects how long the crimping takes as well as the quality of the crimped grain.”

Chris has found crimped and clamped grain maize form the foundation of the farm’s feeding system

The aim is to have the cobs at 65-68% dry matter for grain maize, with the harvest at Cross Hill Farm taking place anywhere between October and early December, depending on the season. The Welburns have their own maize header for their New Holland combine, simply changing the concave to adapt for grain maize. The aim is to crimp the crop straight off the combine.

“When we’re combining grain maize, most of the crop residue goes under the header, so it creates a carpet for the combine to travel on, minimising soil damage,” say Chris. “We can crimp up to 25 tonnes/hour, adding an inoculant as we go, and clamp everything we need for the cattle. The rest we sell, for clamping off the farm, usually for a little below the price of wheat.”

The crimped maize goes into the farm’s beef finishing ration, typically fed in equal proportions with barley. It’s a feed that Chris believes contributes significantly to the performance of the cattle enterprise, which buys in pure dairy and dairy-cross calves at a week to ten days old and takes everything through to finish at 500-600kg, averaging an impressive 1.3kg/day liveweight gain.

Chris Welburn feeding crimped maize to his cattle, a core ingredient in the farm’s rotation

“Our aim to grow as much of the cattle ration ourselves as we possibly can and crimped maize is an integral part of the finishing ration, fed from around 12 months,” he adds. “It’s pure energy, but can be fed at high levels without the risk of acidosis.

“In recent years, we’ve also starting taking some of the maize as forage, for inclusion in the TMR for the growing cattle.”

The main strategy around growing maize at Cross Hill Farm is to do so as economically as possible, so full use is made of cattle manure to boost soil fertility. The ground is always ploughed when maize is grown after maize, to minimise disease risks, whereas minimum tillage and sub-soiling may be sufficient following sugar beet, for example.

Drilling is typically carried out in the last week of April and into early May, with a liquid fertiliser (16:0:8 NPK), applied down the spout at 200l/ha, and a granular fertiliser spread before the end of May.

“We’re also applying a molasses-based foliar fertiliser whilst the crop is just still sprayable, towards the end of July, as it is a very efficient way of using nitrogen,” says Chris. “We’re always trying different things, in order to grow maize in the best way possible. For example, we’ve tried sowing westerwolds ryegrass after winter wheat, and then taking a crop in April before spraying it off. We’ve then minimised the cultivations by doing low disturbance sub-soiling and using a strip tiller ahead of the maize drill.

“It’s important to keep trying to move forward, to grow the crop more efficiently and with less impact on the environment.”

Amongst all the uncertainty in farming, growing maize brings a degree of consistency and reliability on this North Yorkshire farm. It provides undoubted rotational benefits, will outperform wheat in a drought, underpins the performance in the beef enterprise, and offers the option of a saleable cash crop. With new improved varieties coming through every year, there’s little doubt that it will remain central to plans at Cross Hill Farm for many years to come.

Across the UK, growers are under mounting pressure to drive crop productivity whilst reducing reliance on synthetic nitrogen. Fertiliser prices have surged, environmental scrutiny has tightened, and quality specifications in premium cereals markets have never been more challenging. For many farmers, this creates a tightrope between agronomic need, economic reality and environmental responsibility.

The Roots of Change (ROC) project steps directly into this challenge. Led by farmers and backed by NIAB and Limagrain, the initiative aims to understand how legume-based cover crops and companion cropping, can support nitrogen efficient cereals production, without compromising yield, grain quality or marketability.

Thomas Todd, ROC farmer, from Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland commented, “This project will confirm with soil and tissue samples and nutrition tests, the true value of cover cropping, and this will then aid with farm development.

“The addition of legumes as a companion crop in the winter wheat trials, along with the cover crop, will be monitored for both nutrient and environmental benefits, and the information gathered will then be put to future use.

“We are keen to be involved with this type of research because it is good for the industry to be at the forefront and not just sitting still, and as a farming business, we are keen to embrace new technologies; from both a cultural and technical perspective.”

Limagrain’s involvement centres on one key question: ‘Why should growers trust legumes and new agronomic systems, to deliver the right nitrogen, in the right place, at the right time?’

Why Change? Fertiliser Volatility, Soil Health Decline and Tightening Specs

Over the past decade, inorganic nitrogen prices have risen sharply whilst remaining highly volatile. For many cereals growers, nitrogen costs now represent a significant portion of production expenses. At the same time, soils long reliant on tight rotations, inversion tillage and high fertiliser inputs, show signs of declining organic matter and reduced resilience.

For malting barley and quality wheat, where processor specifications are demanding, growers face real annual uncertainty around nitrogen availability and grain quality.

Why Legumes? The Case for Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Leguminous species; peas, beans, clovers, all fix atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic inputs. ROC compares legume and non-legume cover crops, companion crops, different establishment systems, termination methods, and new cereal varieties bred for improved nitrogen use efficiency.

Why Limagrain? Adding Expertise Beyond the Field

Limagrain provides new barley and wheat genetics, selected for efficient nitrogen use and to meet quality markets.

Economic and Carbon‑Footprint Modelling

Limagrain leads ROC’s analysis of profitability and carbon impacts, helping farmers quantify real world benefits.

Practical, Farmer Facing Guidance

Limagrain will support ROC’s outreach programme with demonstrations, digital resources, workshops and grower guides.

Why Now? Aligning Farmer Reality with Environmental Outcomes

With fertiliser costs high, and pressure increasing to reach net‑zero, ROC aims to show that integrating legumes can support nitrogen supply, improve soil health and reduce input costs.

The Bottom Line

Roots of Change will deliver nitrogen buffering guidelines, crop specific recommendations, economic comparisons and carbon‑footprint assessments – giving UK growers clearer, evidence-backed pathways for sustainable nitrogen management.

Maize now has the potential to outperform many alternative break crops in gross margin terms whilst offering arable farmers significant rotational benefits such as improved grass weed control, according to experts taking part in a recent Limagrain Field Seeds webinar, attended by farmers from across the UK.

Speakers pointed to the growing demand for anaerobic digester (AD) feedstocks and the high value of grain maize as evidence of market-led opportunities for growers.

They also highlighted the accelerated plant breeding progress that is allowing increased yields of a higher quality crop within a shorter growing window, which is giving more farmers the opportunity to follow maize successfully with winter wheat, for example.

“Potential returns for arable farmers in many parts of England are attractive, with maize offering around two or three times the gross margin of spring oats or spring beans,” said James Webster-Rusk, Senior Agribusiness Analysist for The Anderson Centre.

James Webster Rusk is confident that maize will deliver stronger margins than other spring crops

“The market is there, with growing demand for AD feedstocks and many plants looking to replenish depleted stocks in 2026. With regards to grain maize, we currently import 2.5 million tonnes a year, so there are opportunities to replace at least some of this with homegrown crops, and also to grow maize on contract for crimping, wholecrop or forage.

“In terms of rotational benefits, the different herbicide chemistry used for maize tends to help with the control of grass weeds, including blackgrass, and – being a spring drilled crop with a relatively late harvest – it offers a helpful spread in workloads.”

Whilst maize has historically been associated in some areas with difficult harvesting conditions and the risk of soil damage, speakers agreed on the modern-day potential for the crop to be environmentally beneficial.

“Breeding advances within the last ten years now mean we are growing high yielding crops of maize that mature in a much shorter growing window,” said Limagrain’s Richard Camplin.

“Earlier harvests are most certainly desirable in terms of soil health, not only avoiding structural damage but also allowing the establishment of a following crop that will use up surplus nutrients and prevent soil erosion.

“With the emergence of specialist grain maize options like LG 31.160 and very early maturity high yielders such as Harmony, breeding programmes are delivering varieties that work well within rotations and are suited to helping arable farmers respond to the market opportunities.”

Maize in Practice

Leicestershire arable and poultry farmer Will Oliver said, as part of his practical overview, that grain maize grown within his arable rotation now rivals winter wheat as the main crop. “We have a ready market for grain maize, selling to local poultry units, and it’s a crop that we find fits well into the rotation,” he said. “There’s a positive for soil health, because of the organic matter that’s being incorporated and reduced traffic when growing it, and it fits well within our SFI agreements. “Winter wheat usually performs well enough following maize, but I’d accept a lower margin in return for the wider benefits that it brings to the rotation. “It’s important to factor in drying costs when growing grain maize, but earlier maturing varieties are helping to ensure more of the moisture is lost in the field.”

Leicestershire farmer Will Oliver explains why grain maize has become a key crop on his farm

In their summing up, speakers reiterated the opportunities for maize as a break crop in the arable rotation, but reinforced the importance of seeking out markets in advance and growing varieties from the latest BSPB/NIAB Descriptive List best suited to specific farm conditions and the planned end use.     

LG Beowulf remains a reliable, high-yielding Group 4 winter wheat for UK growers, provided crops are actively managed to prevent yellow rust.

The variety continues to deliver strong on-farm performance, combining high yield potential, stiff straw, good septoria resistance, excellent grain quality and OWBM resistance, says Ron Granger of Limagrain Field Seeds UK.

LG Beowulf’s key strength is its flexibility – and it is this that attracts growers around the country to the variety; it performs consistently across all UK regions and soil types, from light to heavy land, and can be drilled early, at normal timings or late. It is equally suited to first, second or continuous wheat situations.

While LG Beowulf, like many commercial varieties, is now susceptible to the newer yellow rust strain Yr15, careful monitoring and timely fungicide use will allow it to continue to perform at its best.

Early disease control is critical, with a robust, protective fungicide programme using a range of actives throughout the season. A T0, or even pre-T0, spray is recommended as a security measure, with tebuconazole providing a cost-effective option either alone or in combination. Where yellow rust is detected, rates should be increased to eradicate infection quickly.

With crops emerging from a mild winter carrying high biomass and reports of yellow rust already appearing in some fields, growers are urged to monitor crops closely, track weather conditions and make full use of spray windows to stay ahead of disease.  

Maize: The New Game-Changer for Doddington Dairy’s Forage and Sustainability Strategy

Farming in the rain shadow of the Cheviot Hills and with predominantly light sandy soils, Neill and Jackie Maxwell and their team at Doddington Dairy find growing grass to be a challenge.

Fodder beet bolsters the ration for the 400 strong crossbred milking herd, but what they have really wanted to include for quite a number of years is maize.

Neill and Jackie Maxwell make French-style raw milk cheese and ice cream at Doddington Dairy and won Best Food Producers in the BBC Food and Farming Awards in 2015.

Based near Wooler, in Northumberland, on the same latitude as Moscow and the south of Sweden, that’s not been an option, at least not until the 2025 season.

“Maize is a potential game-changer for us, particularly on a farm where grass growth is often difficult,” explains Neill. “Our aim is to produce as much as possible from homegrown crops, so to have our own maize in the ration will be a big step forward.

“We did try growing it around 15 years ago, but without any success. Growing maize under plastic has seemed like our only option, but we would not want the risk of microplastics in our soils and we have a strong sustainability agenda across the business.

”We decided to try growing maize unprotected again after attending an alternative forages workshop where we heard about the progress in maize breeding.

“From our experience this summer, it’s quite possible that maize will perform best for us in the years that are the most difficult to grow grass. Farming is about mitigating risk, so having another crop in the mix that can add great value to the ration whilst bolstering our overall forage output will be a great result.”

The event Neill refers to was organised by Nickerson and featured a presentation from Limagrain Field Seeds UK on the increased potential of earlier maturing varieties. Seed specialist David Watson, who hosted the meeting, helped the Doddington Dairy team in the choice of variety and the management of the crop.

“I advised growing a variety called Prospect, because I knew it had a great track record and felt it would best suit the site,” he explains. “With an FAO of 170, it’s an early variety, though not the earliest produced from the Limagrain breeding programme, but the farm has light soils and the fields in question have a southerly aspect, so I felt sure it could do well. The early vigour certainly helped the crop and with high starch and very good cell wall digestibility it should deliver what the farm wants in the ration.”

The farm grew a cautious 21 acres in 2025, on land close to the farmstead. After plentiful applications of muck and slurry, the sandy ground was ploughed and cultivated before being drilled and then rolled. A compound fertiliser was included down the spout and nitrogen was applied onto the seedbed at 125kg N/ha. A standard programme of pre- and post-emergence herbicides, as advised by the farm’s agronomist, were the only other inputs.

“We drilled on 1^st May in dry conditions, but there was moisture in the seedbed,” recalls Neill. “The crop was out of the ground quickly, and then it rained in June. Thereafter conditions remained largely dry.

“It was not the conditions for growing grass, but the maize continued to thrive. Our biggest issue turned out to be the crows feasting on the maize seedlings.”

The crop was fully mature and harvested on 30^th September, yielding 18.5 tonnes/acre at 33% dry matter, but the on-board yield monitor on the forager revealed some areas of the field yielding 22 to 23 tonnes/acre.

“The variation in yields was almost certainly due to the crow damage,” adds Neill. “Despite that, we’re delighted with how the crop has performed, and particularly with the earliness as it has allowed us plenty of time to drill a following crop of wheat. We don’t ever leave bare ground over winter, so such early maturity is a big factor in the crop being viable for us.”

The farm, run by Neill and Jackie Maxwell, their herd manager James Kelly and his dedicated team, extends to 1,200 tenanted acres. Wheat, barley and fodder beet are grown across about 300 acres, with all crops fed at home.

Calving all year round, the milking herd at Doddington Dairy averages around 8,500 litres/cow. Milk solids are particularly important, with around 20% of production going into the farm’s specialist French-style raw milk cheeses and ice cream. The majority of the milk is sold on a contract to Arla.

Maize has been a game-changer for Jackie and Neill.

“We’re striving all the time to lower our carbon footprint and maximise sustainability,” continues Neill. “So, despite the challenges, we try to make as much as we can from grazing, and will aim to have some cows at grass from the beginning of April through until Christmas if we possibly can, as well as making up to four cuts of grass silage.

From this winter, maize will be included in the milking ration for the first time, replacing a proportion of the grass silage and potentially some of the bought-in straights. The aim is to take the pressure off grass production and also boost the performance of the cows at a critical time.

“We’ll include maize in the ration for the early lactation cows, to maximise intakes and yields,” says Neill. “We’ll go into it steadily at first, but do see great potential going forward.”

The milking ration is fed twice daily, after milking, not least to avoid the risk of cows gorging on fodder beet, which – once available – is fed at a rate of 15kg/cow/day. Also included is a set level of 12kg/cow of concentrate feed, fed as straights, as well as ground maize, soya hulls, barley and wholecrop wheat. There is no bought in compound feed or soya.

“Our herd manager James is first class and I know he and his team are really looking forward to feeding maize,” concludes Neill. “It will allow us to reduce our reliance on grass, making more milk at a similar cost, and that’s all building sustainability into the business and reducing our exposure to risk. If all goes as we hope, we’ll look to increase the maize acreage next year by two or three times.”

Farming on the northern margins of the North Wessex Downs, Hamish McIntosh has always tried to maximise the contribution maize makes to his milking ration.

Soil types vary across the farm, some being challengingly heavy, so success has come with tailoring variety selection according to field conditions, as well as staying abreast of the latest developments in maize breeding, in order to continually improve his output.

In 2025 – a year that has proved challenging for many maize growers – the decision to grow one of the very latest early maturing varieties to come onto the BSPB/NIAB Descriptive List has certainly paid dividends.

Based at Hardwell Farm, near Knighton in Oxfordshire, Hamish runs a 400-cow milking herd alongside 200 acres of arable cropping and a similar acreage of grassland. The herd is conventionally managed, calving all year round, housed in the winter months, and outside during the grazing season. In an area where TB is a continual threat, as many heifers as possible are retained on the farm, in a quest to maintain numbers.

Hamish McIntosh and his dairy herd at Hardwell Farm.

The aim is to minimise parlour-fed concentrates and derive as much as possible from the mixed ration, to support average yields of 9,000 litres/cow. Maize silage certainly plays a key part in this strategy, comprising around half of the forage component.

Around 200 acres of maize are grown on the farm, fitting into a rotation with winter wheat and grass, and this year a quarter of the acreage was given over to newly listed LG Highlight.

“It’s a variety that has looked really promising in trials and fits perfectly with Hamish’s requirement for high dry matter yields, quality in the clamp, and a sufficiently early harvest to allow a following crop of winter wheat to be established,” says Nickerson seed specialist Fraser House. “LG Highlight will be one of the top new varieties for dry matter yield on the 2027 maize Descriptive Lists, and with an FAO rating of 170 it certainly has the earliness. It also has high starch yields and strong agronomic characteristics. Where farmers are looking for the combination of yield, quality and earliness, this is a variety that really hits the sweet spot.”

It was grown alongside Prospect, also FAO 170, and the slightly later maturing Conclusion, both from the Limagrain Field Seeds UK breeding programme and having a proven track record on the farm.

“Some of the land at Hardwell Farm is not the best for maize, so the policy is to grow what we think will perform in the particular circumstances,” continues Fraser. “Robust varieties with early vigour, good standing power and the necessary disease tolerance are what’s required, plus early maturity and high dry matter yields. Increasingly, we are seeing varieties that will deliver this full package, with the additional benefits of high cell wall digestibility that ensure farmers like Hamish can rely on having a full clamp of energy dense forage.”

Hamish was delighted with the yield and quality of the LG Highlight silage.

With so much rain falling throughout the winter and spring, Hamish had to work hard to create a suitable seedbed for his 2025 maize crop. All the maize ground is ploughed, with slurry and manure applied before and sometimes afterwards.

“The heavy rain seems to be becoming more common and it does not help our heavier ground,” he says. “We’re increasingly needing to sub-soil, and on our heavier ground we’ll normally need to power harrow before drilling. We have our own maize drill, so we can be timely, going when the conditions are right.”

Optimum drilling date is 1^st May at Hardwell Farm, and maize is drilled with DAP fertiliser down the spout and 125kg N/ha onto the seedbed. Pre- and post-emergence herbicides maintain good weed control, and – with that including a reduction in blackgrass on the farm – offers a wider benefit of having maize in the rotation.

“I’m aware of the specialist maize fertilisers and developments like foliar sprays, and we’ll keep a close eye on any ways to improve, but – at the moment – our system seems to be working. Growing the right varieties is a good part of our success, and being aware of the progress in maize breeding.”

The maize at Hardwell Farm was harvested on 20^th September and, whilst it was not the best year for maize generally, Hamish was happy to see the LG Highlight standing out.

“It was our largest crop with big mature cobs, so it delivered what we wanted,” he says.

“We probably cut a little earlier than some, because I like to see some green leaf in the clamp. Overall, I’m very happy with the performance of the maize, and it was off in good time to establish the winter wheat.”

The maize will go into the ration at what Hamish considers the optimum level of around 50% of the forage, alongside grass silage, biscuit meal, a rape-soya meal and urea.

With maize breeding progress providing earlier varieties that avoid any compromise on dry matter yield or forage quality, it is a crop that will continue to be of great value at Hardwell Farm, for both milk production and crop rotation.

Limagrain Field Seeds UK has reinforced its commitment to delivering high-performing, resilient crop genetics with the addition of several standout varieties to the AHDB Recommended List (RL) 2026/27.

Commenting on the latest RL additions, Liam Wilkinson, head of technical for Limagrain Field Seeds UK, said: “In a year where we have  seen disease ratings across established varieties change significantly, and two new hard feed wheats enter the AHDB Recommended List with some of the highest untreated yields available, this latest update is a clear testament to the targets of the Limagrain wheat breeding programme.”

Liam Wilkinson brings technical expertise to Limagrain’s breeding programme, driving innovation in UK varieties.

LG Defiance is one of the highest-yielding feed wheats on the new RL, achieving 109% of the UK mean yield. With an untreated yield of 95% — the highest currently available — and a strong disease profile, including an 8 rating for yellow rust, LG Defiance is particularly well suited to main and late drilling slots.

The variety has shown strong performance following roots and maize, while internal trials indicate a positive response to split plant growth regulator (PGR) applications.

LG Defiance is a high yielding hard feed wheat with the highest untreated yield on the AHDB RL 2026/27.

Another strong addition is LG Challenger, which also ranks among the highest-yielding winter wheats on the RL. Delivering consistent performance across all regions, the variety excels in northern trials and sits as the joint highest-yielding second wheat.

With excellent grain quality and orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM) resistance, LG Challenger offers a robust and reliable option for growers seeking yield security.

LG Challenger has performed consistently across all regions, but stands out in the North.

In winter barley, LG Catapult sets a new benchmark as the highest-yielding BYDV-tolerant two-row winter barley available for the coming season. Historically, BYDV tolerance has been associated with a yield penalty; however, LG Catapult is the first Limagrain variety to close the gap on conventional high-yielding feed barleys.

Combined with a comprehensive disease package, the variety provides growers with an effective integrated pest management (IPM) tool, particularly in high aphid pressure situations.

LG Catapult is the highest yielding BYDV tolerant two-row winter barley available to growers for the forthcoming season.

Limagrain has also strengthened its oilseed rape portfolio with LG Calvin CL, a Clearfield® tolerant hybrid winter oilseed rape that joins the RL as the highest gross output variety in the Clearfield® sector. Fully loaded offering Limagrain’s signature traits — including TuYV resistance, RLM7, and pod shatter resistance.

LG Calvin CL has demonstrated consistent performance across all regions. Its strong light leaf spot resistance makes it a particularly attractive option for northern growers managing high brassica weed pressure.

These latest additions highlight Limagrain Field Seeds UK’s ongoing commitment to breeding consistent, resilient varieties across its crop portfolio, delivering performance across all UK regions and farming systems.

Growers are encouraged to watch for further updates on where these new varieties can be seen performing in a range of on-farm situations during the 2026 season.

How LG Avenger Delivered a World Record Oilseed Rape Yield

Earlier this year, Lincolnshire farmer Tim Lamyman set a new World Record for oilseed rape of 7.52 t/ha with Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle Resilient Variety LG Avenger.

Mr Lamyman grew LG Avenger for the first time last season and mentioned that his main reason for choosing it was its fantastic autumn vigour. He wanted a variety that could be sown later to help mitigate flea beetle risk, and that would get away quickly and establish a strong canopy going into winter.

Supporting the vigour of LG Avenger with a comprehensive nutrition programme is essential to building a big biomass crop and high yield potential, Mr Lamyman believes.

Given the exceptional performance of LG Avenger last season, Mr Lamyman has sown it again across an area of 90 ha.

LG Calvin CL: The UK’s Top Clearfield Hybrid Variety

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Recommended List brings new varieties in focus and on the oilseed rape side, LG Calvin CL is newly recommended for the UK as the highest yielding Clearfield hybrid variety, with good autumn vigour, turnip yellow virus (TUYV) and pod shatter (POSH) resistance.

Early Maturing Maize Varieties: What Farmers Really Gain by Going Earlier

Producing milk without maize isn’t something that Flintshire dairy farmer Tom Beltcher would like to consider.

Not only is it a vital part of his 450-cow herd’s ration, but it has become an integral part of his farming system, fitting into a rotation in which double-cropping is now commonplace.

Success in recent years has come through the use of the earliest maturing varieties available, with continuing progress by maize breeders meaning that an early harvest does not have to result in any compromises on yield, nutritional value or digestibility.

“We’ve grown maize for as long as I can remember, but it has become more important to us in the last ten years,” says Tom. “Our cows are averaging around 10,000 litres, so maize silage is essential to complement grass silage. We make our grass silage using a multi-cut system. This produces a high quality forage but, with grass, there is always more risk of inconsistencies resulting from variable growing conditions and unpredictable weather at the time you’re cutting. Maize now typically makes up around half of our forage ration and offers all-important stability and consistency that ensures we keep the cows performing.”

The Beltchers are based at Argoed Hall Farm, near Mold, and typically grow around 250 acres of maize each year, with a further 150 acres usually grown on contract on neighbouring farms. Whether the maize is grown at home or on contract, Tom insists on a responsible approach that looks after the land and minimises the risks of any problems associated with a late harvest in wet conditions.

“The aim is to have the crops off as early as we can, allowing the opportunity to establish another crop in the autumn,” he says. “On our farm that is usually winter wheat, but it can be a grass crop that will provide an early first cut. We apply the same thinking with crops grown on contract, because double-cropping is the best way to manage the land, environmentally and economically. It’s about working together for the best mutual outcomes.”

Tom Beltcher with his father Roger.

Argoed Hall Farm is predominantly a heavy clay site, so is considered marginal for maize. The policy is to grow the earliest maturing material available, with Limagrain Field Seeds’ Ultra Early variety Duke standing out in 2025. Duke is an example of the type of genetic progress resulting from an extensive UK breeding programme that is focused on producing stable varieties that deliver high yields of dry matter within a shorter growing window, without compromising on nutritional quality and digestibility.

With up to eight trials sites across the UK, Limagrain Fields Seeds is selecting LG varieties that have the proven consistency of performance required in UK conditions by farmers like Tom Beltcher, delivering a number of new improved varieties onto the NIAB/BSPB Descriptive List every year.

“Overall, we’ve averaged around 18-19 tonnes per acre across all our maize crops this year, and Duke has been the standout performer,” adds Tom. “We drilled about a week earlier than usual, in the first week of April, because seedbed conditions were right. It was something of a gamble, but it paid off because we had moist soils during the critical establishment phase. Given the early start the maize had, it’s been a good year for the crop, and our earliest harvest ever.”

Making up around half of the forage ration, maize provides much-needed stability and consistency alongside grass silage.

For Tom, maize is his priority, which he admits sometimes means the farm is not making full use of cover crops grown over winter. It’s a sacrifice he considers worthwhile, however, as it means the maize always has the best possible start.

“We want to have the maize ground mucked, ploughed, broken down and power harrowed by early April, so we can drill as soon as soil temperatures are right,” he says.

“That may mean we’re taking a very early first cut off a grass crop, and losing potential yield, but I’d rather maximise what we can achieve from the maize.”

Maize is drilled with a microgranular phosphate and nitrogen fertiliser down the spout, and receives a further 100 units of nitrogen per acre when the crop is around knee-high. Crops receive pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides, but no other specialist inputs.

“It’s a great crop, when you consider the amount of high quality dry matter you can put in the clamp, and an ideal complement for grass silage.

“Maize has at times had something of a bad name, in relation to issues such as soil erosion, but there is really no need for that to be the case. Growing the very early maturing varieties, which can now deliver great yields and quality, should – more often than not – allow the opportunities to harvest in good conditions and establish an over-winter crop. In the majority of cases, this should be a positive for soil health and the environment, as well as producing clamps full of high quality forage.”