2014/15 HGCA Recommended Lists

New cereal and oilseed rape varieties have been added to the 2014/15 HGCA Recommended lists.  Overall 23 seed types have been removed whilst 25 varieties have been added.  There are new options in all main cereals and oilseed rape categories. 

For Group 1 wheats a new process has been put into place for this year.  Nabim will give new bread-making varieties a provisional (p) rating when the lists are first published in December.  This will be confirmed once commercial quantities of grain have been tested in the spring.  Skyfall is the first Group 1 variety to go through this system.  It is said to outyield existing Group 1 varieties and have good disease ratings.

New varieties are available in nabim Groups 2, 3 and 4.  Five winter wheat varieties (KWS Sterline, KWS Podium, Einstein, Gravitas and Denman) have been removed.

Cereal growers will continue to see a trend in improved yields for spring-sown feed wheat and barley. There is one new high-yielding variety in each category.  This will give growers more choice when it comes to blackgrass control and when unfavourable conditions limit autumn drilling.  Popularity of spring varieties may also increase under the crop diversification rules within BPS ‘Greening’. 

In other barley categories, there is a choice of two new winter feed varieties and spring malting barleys sees four varieties under test. Overall four winter barleys and two spring barleys have been removed from the list.

Four new oilseed rape varieties have made the list, although 10 have been removed. Oats have seen two winter and two new spring varieties make the list.  The full details are available from: http://www.hgca.com/content.template/23/0/Varieties/Varieties/Varieties%20Home%20Page.mspx