Download your essential guide to oilseeds, winter wheat and winter barley – this year’s guide is jam packed with brand new market-leading varieties, plus a wealth of technical articles from our team!

This brochure covers the key agronomic attributes of individual varieties for securing yield potential. The data is taken from the AHDB RL with additional Limagrain data sets, offering you added insight when it comes to selecting the best variety for your farming system.

This latest guide includes articles from our technical team – Ron Granger and Liam Wilkinson on variety suitability on farm, and also a handy ‘6 tips for barley grain and straw yield’, something which could be really important this year.

We’ve also included articles from the OSR team – Product Manager Florentina Petrescu writes about how OSR has made a fantastic comeback this year, and highlights some stand-out varieties from the LG breeding programme.

As always, if there is anything else you would like to know, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

 Book onto our Demo Days!

Suffolk Summer Demo Day – Thursday 4th June 2026

Staffordshire Summer Demo Day – Monday 22nd June 2026

Limagrain Field Seeds is taking variety trials beyond the plot with the launch of a new UK farmer-led Demonstration Farm network.

The initiative is designed to give growers a clearer, more practical view of how varieties perform in real farming systems, moving away from purely small-plot data and into field-scale reality. Instead of relying solely on trial sites and headline figures, the network will showcase Limagrain genetics under the pressures that shape day-to-day farm decisions, including soil type, rotation, cultivation and input strategy.

Nicolle Hamilton, marketing director at Limagrain, says the aim is to give growers a different perspective. “We want to offer growers a more meaningful way of looking at our varieties, through a farmer lens,” she says. “That means taking them out of controlled conditions and putting them into real farming systems, managed by farmers making commercial decisions every day. While she stresses that formal trials and the AHDB Recommended List remain important benchmarks, she says they do not always reflect the realities of commercial farming.

“This is not about replacing trials, it’s about adding another layer,” she says. “Farmers want to know how varieties establish, how they cope with different soils and how they perform under lower inputs or after cover crops. That is where this approach adds value.”

“It’s about working with farmers, listening to them and learning from them.”

Heather Oldfield, Limagrain cereals product manager, says the strength of the network lies in its farmer-led approach. “This is about genuine collaboration,” she says. She adds the focus is not on identifying a single standout variety, but on understanding where different genetics fit. “There is no perfect variety,” she says.

“Success comes from putting the right variety in the right place. What works on one farm may not work on another. These Demo Farms help us show those differences in a way that is much more relevant to growers.”

The Farmers

The first two farms in the network are based in Suffolk and Staffordshire, offering two contrasting systems. Ryan McCormack hosts the East Anglian site at Dennington Hall Farms, while Rob Atkin farms over in Staffordshire. Together, they provide a broad snapshot of how varieties perform across different soils, climates and management approaches.

Ryan McCormack is testing Limagrain varieties in systems that include reduced tillage, cover crops, and livestock to understand what works best under these conditions

At Dennington Hall Farms, Ryan McCormack is running a highly integrated system combining arable, livestock and environmental management. The farm operates a 12-year rotation and places strong emphasis on soil health, with cover cropping, minimal cultivation and livestock grazing all playing a role. “I’m farming for margin, but also for my soils,” he says. “That means I need varieties that can cope with reduced tillage, cover crops and lower inputs. The only way to understand that is to test them in those conditions.” His trials include comparing multiple varieties under different establishment systems within the same field, giving a clear view of how genetics respond to management.

In contrast, Rob Atkin’s Staffordshire farm operates across a wide range of soil types, from heavy clay to high-organic-matter silt. The mixed farm includes combinable crops alongside beef and sheep, with a growing focus on soil health and cost control. “I still need yield to pay the bills,” he says. “But I want varieties that work on farm, not just in perfect plots. I want to know how they perform under pressure.” For Mr Atkin, the value of the network lies in its honesty. “It’s about seeing what works, what doesn’t and why, that’s far more useful than just looking at figures.”

Rob Atkin believes that seeing varieties in real situations helps him make better decisions

To help growers follow crops through the season, Limagrain Field Seeds is supporting the Demo Farm initiative with on‑farm demonstration days. These demonstration days offer the opportunity to see varieties in the field, discuss results with farmers and Limagrain experts, and gain practical insight into real‑world performance.

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.

The exceptionally dry season proved challenging for many crops this harvest, and although some yields did suffer, others fared much better, with some stand-out performers, as the LG Legends explain.

The LG Legends are a group of farmers from around the UK, working with diverse situations on-farm. They share their honest and practical on-farm experiences, from variety selection and husbandry, to harvest results and everything in between.

LG Typhoon tops the charts

Ryan McCormack

In Suffolk, LG Typhoon was the star performer at Dennington Hall Farms, where a 100 ha block averaged 10.1 t/ha, with good grain quality and plenty of high quality straw, says farm manager, Ryan McCormack.

“It was the first of the wheats to be harvested, starting on 14 July, and gave the highest average yield out of all wheat varieties we grew last season; one small field achieved 11.7 t/ha, which was a good result given the dry conditions.”

All LG Typhoon was grown as a first wheat after beans, with minimal surface cultivations ahead of drilling in the first week of October – slightly later than he would normally sow the variety.

Another strong performer was LG Beowulf, which was coming in at over 10 t/ha, until 60mm of rain in the third week of July interrupted harvest for 10 days, Ryan says. “That rain delay seemed to knock the specific weight by 7-8%, and had a similar impact on yield. Despite that, it still did well overall, and, like the LG Typhoon, stayed pretty clean.

“We didn’t see any yellow rust, although to be fair, it was quite a low disease pressure season. We will be growing more LG Typhoon and LG Beowulf next year, combatting any yellow rust risk by applying tebuconazole at T0 to bolster disease resistance”. LG Redwald is another wheat variety the farm will grow again this autumn, as the extra vigour ideally suits later sowing after sugar beet, he notes.

 

After achieving an impressive 10.75 t/ha this harvest, winter barley variety LG Caravelle is another that will be grown again in 2025/26, along with LG Capitol, 100 ha of LG Avenger oilseed rape, and the new candidate hard wheat, LG Defiance. “We saw LG Defiance in trials and really liked how it looked, so will give it a try this autumn as a first wheat after oilseed rape.”

OSR is stand-out performer

Rob Atkin

For Staffordshire grower, Rob Atkin, 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 5^th August, the other on the 25^th. “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.

Rob 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 reduce risk.”

On the cereals front, Rob acknowledges dry weather did reduce the farm’s average wheat yield by around 2.5 t/ha across all fields and varieties, although there were stronger performers within this, in a very challenging season.

“LG Rebellion is one variety that’s really surprised me in how well it’s done considering the year. We tried a small 5 ha area for the first time, which despite being drilled late in unfavourable conditions after maize, still did really well, yielding 7.4 t/ha (3 t/acre). There was a lot of rain soon after drilling, but it survived really well, with nice even establishment, and got going quickly in the spring. It also stayed clean and produced a decent amount of straw.”

A similar trial area of LG Beowulf did equally well, coming in just shy of the farm’s highest average yield, at 8.4 t/ha (3.4 t/acre), with good specific weight (77 kg/hl), protein (12.3%) and Hagberg (283).

Given this strong performance, he plans to grow both varieties on a larger scale this coming season, increasing the total area to 40-50 ha.

Overcoming late-sowing challenges

Trialling new varieties in a season as challenging and stressful as 2024/25 was never going to be ideal, but Leicestershire farmer Will Oliver says there were still some interesting differences, which will help shape future decisions.

A small area of three LG varieties was trialled on the 650 ha arable, grassland and indoor poultry farm last season, including LG Beowulf, LG Rebellion, and LG Redwald (500 kg of seed for each).

Will Oliver

“They were all fairly late sown, direct drilled after maize in November, onto heavy, high magnesium content clay soil, so it certainly wasn’t ideal conditions. There were challenges at every end of the growing season; crops were drilled in the wet, and then when we needed rain, there wasn’t any.”

As a consequence, the average yield across all varieties and total wheat area of 300 ha was down 1.4 t/ha on the farm’s five-year average of 8.5 t/ha, with LG Redwald and LG Rebellion performing best out of the LG trial varieties, Will says.

He was particularly impressed by the establishment and growth of the LG Rebellion through last autumn and into spring, as well as its final specific weight, which came in at 78 kg/hl.

“We will probably grow LG Rebellion again on a larger scale this autumn, alongside KWS Vibe, and Champion; all of which will be for seed.

“It’s been a hard year to judge varieties on yield performance alone, so I’m basing my decisions on how varieties established and looked through the season. We want a variety that can establish in late-drilling, more challenging situations, and I felt the LG Rebellion emerged well and looked better than some others we trialled.”

The wheat area is likely to be down to nearer 200 ha this autumn though, as after a six-year hiatus, oilseed rape is back into the rotation. Some 130 ha of LG Avenger was direct drilled after wheat in late August, just ahead of forecast rain.

“We’ve not grown oilseed rape for six years, but have decided to give it another go,” Will notes.

Other cropping includes 200 ha of maize, mainly LG Prospect and LG30.179, drilled in early April. “We normally combine our maize, but because of the forage shortage this year, we took the decision to sell it as a standing crop. Everything looks good, and it sold well at auction. Although it’s been a challenging year for maize, I’d say it’s been our stand-out crop.”

Will likes LG Prospect and LG30.179, and plans to grow both varieties again next year. “I like the early maturity, which really helps us get the following wheat crop in. They also have good standing power, good cob size, and they also tend to combine easier than some other varieties.”

Defying a tough season

Luke Palmer

The winter barley variety LG Capitol was one of the highlights from a challenging season for Cambridgeshire grower, Luke Palmer.

Some 100 ha (250 acres) was grown for seed, on a range of different soil types, with yields averaging 9.1 t/ha across the board, and excellent grain quality.

“That’s a pretty good result considering the season, and the fact that none of it was drilled particularly early last autumn. Most of the LG Capitol followed either sugar beet, potatoes, or maize, so was sown anywhere between the 1^st October and 20^th November. It got up and grew away really well though.”

All straw was baled, although he admits straw yields were down on normal, due to the exceptionally dry spring and summer.

Mr Palmer plans to grow a similar area of LG Capitol again this coming season.

“It’s an excellent variety that I’m really pleased with. It has a high specific weight, strong disease profile, and seems to yield well on our land.”

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.”

Independent crop consultant Pat Thornton, farms 150ha’s of arable land at Low Melwood Farm, Owston Ferry, North Lincolnshire, and has grown cereal and pulse seed crops for Limagrain for the last six years.

We asked him about the pros and cons of growing crops for seed.

What are the main benefits of growing crops for seed?

Growing crops for seed adds value to what I already grow across the rotation. It gives me a premium on top of a standard feed crop. One of the most exciting aspects is seeing new genetics in action before they become widely available. It’s great to be part of that development process and see how these new crops perform in real farm conditions. I have direct access to the breeder, which is invaluable for understanding the crop and getting expert advice. Seed crops are also collected relatively quickly at harvest, helping to move crops on faster; and this helps with cash flow.

Are there any challenges associated with growing crops for seed?

Yes, growing seed crops requires stricter quality control and attention to detail. There are specific requirements for purity and disease management, which means I must follow precise guidelines to meet standards. We have to be extra vigilant about weeds like wild oats, which can be an issue, and blackgrass, which is a particular challenge on my heavier soils. To manage this, I tend to grow seed crops on my cleaner fields.

Is storage capability an issue?

Storage is an important consideration because seed crops need to be kept separately to maintain purity. This means having dedicated storage space and ensuring it is well-managed to meet seed quality standards.

Pat Thornton of Low Melwood Farm.

This year Pat is growing LG Beowulf and Tundra winter beans. Pat has grown Tundra for a few years now and is looking forward to seeing the new genetics coming out of the LG pulses breeding programme.

Find out how becoming an LG seed contract grower can benefit you.  Contact Victoria Smith on:

 T: +44(0)1472 370159
E: victoria.smith@limagrain.co.uk

This article is featured in the June 2025 edition of GatePost.  Click here to read the full edition.

The inclusion of winter barley can significantly enhance productivity, as well as economic and environmental sustainability on farm. Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been a decline in the winter barley area planted, similar to oilseed rape, likely due to depressed commodity prices.

The versatility of winter barley, particularly in combination with oilseed rape, should not be overlooked. This is especially relevant with the launch of Limagrain’s Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle resilience oilseed varieties this Autumn.

Improved Soil Health
Winter barley has a positive impact on soil health. It acts as a cover crop, protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient leaching during the winter months. Its root system improves
soil structure, increases organic matter, and enhances water infiltration, all of which contribute to long-term soil fertility.

Weed Suppression

Winter barley is effective at suppressing weeds. Its rapid establishment and dense canopy outcompete many weed species, reducing the weed seed bank and minimising
herbicide use. This lowers production costs and promotes sustainable farming by reducing inputs.

Flexibility, Pest & Disease Management

Incorporating winter barley into the rotation can break the cycle of pests and diseases. For example, it reduces the incidence of take-all and eyespot. Staffordshire farmer Rob Atkin mentions that “being able to drill varieties with high yield potential, like LG Caravelle, means we can drill early. Early September drilling helps take the pressure off, and we’ve grazed forward winter barley crops with sheep for extra feed into winter.”
Limagrain’s Cereals & Pulses Product Manager emphasises that winter barley requires earlier foliar applications than winter wheat. This consolidation of workload allows for more effective attention to crop needs.

Newly Recommended variety LG Carpenter and RL Candidate LG Catapult are both BYDV tolerant. BYDV in severe cases can lead to significant crop losses, up to 50% in severe cases, reduced tillering, yellowing and stunted growth, and delayed maturity. LG Catapult is a competitive two-row feed variety, with short straw, good standing, a robust disease package, and high yield potential; a clear step forward in winter barley breeding.

Yield Stability and Early Harvest
Winter barley is less affected by adverse weather compared to spring-sown crops, ensuring reliable yields even in challenging growing seasons. Additionally, it matures earlier, allowing for an earlier harvest, which frees up time and resources on farm. Helping to spread workloads and save costs. Varieties like LG Capitol, which performed well on Luke Palmer’s farm, near Cambridge, yielded 9.5t/ha in 2024. The years of breeding, attention to detail, and collaboration between farmers and breeders, are showcasing excellent results.

Economic Benefits
Due to adverse weather in Autumn 2023, many farmers planted spring barley in 2024, leading to depressed prices. Over the last decade, winter barley has been a profitable addition for farmers. Its early harvest provides early cash flow, and the straw offers an additional income stream. The reduced need for inputs also lowers production costs.

Environmental Benefits

Winter barley plays an essential role in reducing soil erosion, improving soil health, and lowering input needs, making it a key part of a sustainable farming system.

Conclusion
Winter barley offers numerous benefits, including improved soil health, weed suppression, pest and ” disease management, yield stability, and economic and environmental advantages. For these reasons, it should remain a valuable addition to any crop rotation.

This article is featured in the June 2025 edition of GatePost.  Click here to read the full edition.

The sisters LG Capitol and LG Caravelle are definitely doing it for themselves, and proving to be a force within the winter barley sector.

Winter barley sister varieties LG Capitol & LG Caravelle, continue to show a high consistency of yield performance in what is considered to have been one of the most testing seasons for winter cereals, ever!

Both varieties retain their positions as high yielding fully recommended 2-row feed varieties on the AHDB Recommended List harvest results mean 2024 (provisional results 28^th August), with LG Capitol achieving 105.4% and LG Caravelle 105.2% of controls, for treated grain yield. Both varieties show a yield increase over KWS Tardis.

Ron Granger, Limagrain Field Seeds arable technical manager, shares his views on why both varieties have a place on farm this coming season.

LG Capitol has been the highest yielding 2-row feed variety for the last two seasons – just beating its sister LG Caravelle, by less than a decimal point!

He believes their excellent consistency of performance over some very difficult seasons is a headline note, with both varieties demonstrating this consistency of yield performance over not just seasons – but also across regions – as confirmed by AHDB RL harvest results for the mean of four years, from 2020–2024, which shows both varieties continue to sit at 106%.

He says the high yield potential of both varieties comes down to their increased tillering ability and this in turn also delivers valuable straw yields.

This excellent tillering ability of both LG Capitol and LG Caravelle, allows for as good black-grass competition as that offered by hybrid barley. In particular, LG Capitol’s performance on heavy soils which, generally favour black-grass populations, is the best of any of the winter barley varieties available, hybrids included.

On farm characteristics

Mr Granger notes, agronomically, there are such subtle differences between the two sister lines but both varieties can be treated the same with regards to agronomic inputs and timings, as shown by results from Limagrain in-house agronomy trials over the last 2 seasons.

“It’s worth noting, LG Caravelle and LG Capitol winter barleys can offer a higher yield potential with better agronomics and specific weights compared to a second or third winter wheat, along with a reduced fungicide spend and an earlier harvest opportunity, if oilseed rape is back on the agenda.”

In a season characterised by wet weather and high disease pressure, one East Lothian grower says his LG Caravelle winter barley has remained “spotless” and delivered the yields it ‘promised.’

This is the first time the variety, LG Caravelle has been grown on the Baro Farm, just outside Haddington, with yields ranging from 8.9 t/ha to 10.8 t/ha, across 4 fields.

James McLaughlin

Farm manager James McLaughlin, is delighted with the performance of the variety, pointing out that not only has it yielded very well, it has also made the specification for pearling and will be bought by local merchants, Silvery Tweed, in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Cereals managing director for Silvery Tweed, Bob Gladstone says: “LG Caravelle performs well in our plant, producing a high-quality pearled barley for our customers within the UK food and drink sector. The consistent high pearling yield delivered by LG Caravelle, allows us to produce a competitively priced product for our customers.”

“Considering we have had what is being cited as the wettest winter in 25 years, this is an impressive performance from the variety,” he says.

The barley, at the 450 ha farm, forms part of a rotation centred around combinable winter crops, oilseed rape and spring oats. “We like to grow winter barley mainly because it’s harvested earlier, which gives us a good window of opportunity to establish following wheat crops.”

Mr McLaughlin says the LG Caravelle sown in mid-September, established quickly and was just emerging as the weather broke later that month, but showed excellent vigour, despite saturated soils and tough growing conditions.

“We’ve barely lost anything, which is amazing compared with what some have faced. In fact, the variety tillered really well.”

Staying ‘spotless’

Importantly, Mr McLaughlin says all of his LG Caravelle has remained “spotlessly clean”, despite very high disease pressure throughout this season.

“With winter barley varieties in the past, we’ve often found disease will get in during the winter and early spring, then never really seem to go away.”

The fact crops have stayed so clean is testament to LG Caravelle’s strong genetics, supported with well-timed fungicide applications. These included: T1 Folpet + Bixafen+Prothioconazole+Spiroxamine at T1, followed by Folpet + Prothioconazole + Pyraclostrobin at T2.

“The crop ripened off evenly – we didn’t need to burn it off, which is a nice saving to make on glyphosate, and it was combined on 1 August which is fairly standard for us,” he says.

Mr McLaughlin confirms that on the back of the very pleasing performance of the variety, all of the 2025 winter barley crop will be put down to LG Caravelle.

James McLaughlin tried LG Caravelle on the advice of Douglas Bonn of Nickerson Seeds, who sees the variety as possessing all the key characteristics for a winter barley.

”In my opinion, LG Caravelle is the stand out winter barley to grow, as the highest yielding two-row winter barley for the second year running, since joining the AHDB Recommended List in 2023.

“Offering UK yields of 105.6%, LG Caravelle continues to dispel any misconception that two-row barleys are lower yielding than hybrids. The variety certainly competes with the best yielding hybrid barleys,” he says.

“LG Caravelle’s high yields are backed up by an excellent disease profile, reflected in its superb untreated performance. It is early maturing with stiff straw and good brackling resistance.

“LG Caravelle also offers an exceptionally high specific weight for a winter barley, of 71.4 kg/hl, combined with low screenings %.”

Winter barley variety LG Capitol has withstood one of the wettest seasons on record as well as any winter wheat and looks full of promise heading towards harvest 2024, says Shropshire farmer & contractor, Rob Bebbington.

Fieldfare Farmers covers some 365 ha (900 acres) for a range of clients across Cheshire, Shropshire, and north Wales. It has a varied rotation, split roughly 50:50 between autumn cereals and spring cropping, including potatoes, forage maize, oilseed rape, winter wheat and winter barley.

Winter barley is grown primarily as an early entry for oilseed rape, and this year, Mr Bebbington’s whole barley area (28 ha) is down to LG Capitol, grown for the first time on the recommendation of seed supplier and grain buyer, Wynnstay.

“Historically, 20 years ago, winter barley always looked a bit disappointing after a wet, cold winter, whereas with the improvements in genetics we’ve seen in recent years, now it almost seems to withstand the conditions as well as any winter wheat,” says Mr Bebbington.

“Indeed, despite one of the wettest years we’ve ever had, LG Capitol has stood up to the wet autumn and spring, and looks incredible! I can’t wait to see how it performs going into the shed this harvest.”

This year’s LG Capitol was sown on 26 September at a seed rate of 165 kg/ha, after forage maize. Land was ploughed, power harrowed and drilled in good time last autumn, allowing crops just enough time to establish before the winter set in, he says.

In total, the LG Capitol received 165 kg N/ha (applied as 26N 31SO3 and granulated urea), two fungicides based on bixafen, Fluopyram + prothioconazole and fluxapyroxad + Mefentrifluconazole, plus a mepiquat-based growth regulator, and foliar manganese.

Mr Bebbington says winter barley yields typically average around 7.6-8 t/ha (3.1-3.2 t/acre), but looking at the condition of the LG Capitol approaching harvest, he is cautiously optimistic that this year’s crop will at least match, if not exceed, that level.

The crop will be followed by oilseed rape. “We still like growing oilseed rape; it fits in well with our rotation and gives us a good spread of cropping, with winter barley providing an excellent early entry. Fingers crossed we haven’t suffered too badly with cabbage stem flea beetle.”

Looking ahead to the coming autumn, Mr Bebbington says end user requirements remain a key driver of varietal choices, so will again influence final decisions.

“But at the same time, we like LG Capitol, and don’t feel a need to change from it.”

LG Capitol

•      –>     Highest yielding 2-row winter barley for the east & north
•      –>     Yield comparable with hybrid varieties
•      –>     Strong disease resistance – notably brown rust, Rhynchosporium & mildew
•      –>     Good specific weight & screenings

Limagrain sister varieties; LG Caravelle & LG Capitol, dominate the 2-row feed winter barley AHDB 2024/25 Recommended List.

Mark Ullyott

LG Caravelle performed very well last harvest on the Yorkshire Wolds, for Mark Ullyott of Langtoft Grange Farm near Driffield, and he was extremely pleased with yields between 8.5-9.5 t/ha.

“We have grown seed crops of barley for over 10 years, and LG Caravelle must be the best we have seen,” he says.

“It is always interesting growing a new variety for the first time to see how it performs, and we are very pleased with LG Caravelle and will grow it again. If we could, we would put all of our acreage down to the variety,” says Mark.

Ron comments ‘LG Capitol Backs up Successful Genetics’

“LG Capitol backs up the successful genetics of LG Caravelle, in that it is a sister line selected from the same initial cross.

LG Capitol has shown similar very high yield potential, sitting on 106% for the UK and 107% in the east, and importantly, it has shown this high consistency of performance over regions and seasons.

This trait, combined with the desirable agronomic attributes of good standing, a good disease resistance profile and good grain quality, makes it a great addition to the new RL and it will be of interest to all barley growers.”