First RL harvest results show above-average winter barley yields

The average treated yield of control varieties (10.62t/ha) is currently ahead of the five-year average (10.07t/ha).

Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2019, the control varieties comprise two malting varieties, SY Venture and Craft, the six-row hybrid variety Bazooka, the six-row conventional variety Funky and the two-row feed variety KWS Orwell. The average of the yields from these varieties is represented as 100 per cent.

The current 2019 values only show yields based on one season from three sites. In 2019, the six-row conventional feed varieties Funky (109 per cent) and KWS Astaire (106 per cent) are performing well, as are the six-row hybrid varieties SY Baracooda (108 per cent), SY Kingsbarn (106 per cent) and Sunningdale (106 per cent), according to AHDB.

The two-row feed varieties KWS Gimlet (105 per cent) and LG Mountain (105 per cent) are showing the best yields so far in 2019. These varieties were both new to the 2019/2020 RL.

Two-row malting varieties are judged more on their quality than outright yield. Currently, the average yields for these varieties are Electrum (98 per cent), Craft (95 per cent) and SY Venture (88 per cent).

Five-year average

Five-year average values (2015 to 2019) provide a better representation of performance across seasons, says AHDB.

Over five years, the six-row hybrids SY Baracooda (107 per cent), Belmont (107 per cent) and SY Kingsbarn (107 per cent) are performing well on yield, says AHDB.

For the two-row feeds, KWS Gimlet (103 per cent), LG Mountain (103 per cent), KWS Orwell (102 per cent) and LG Flynn (101 per cent) have produced the highest yields.

Five-year average results also provide a better measure of candidate varieties. Results can only be published when varieties have completed national listing, according to AHDB.

Candidate varieties

The candidate six-row hybrid varieties are achieving good yields in the five-year average figures, with SY Melbourne at 108 per cent and SY Kingston at 107 per cent. New two-row feed varieties KWS Hawking (105 per cent), Jordan (103 per cent) and KWS Patriot (103 per cent) are performing well. The candidate two-row malting varieties Fay and Zophia both have a five-year average yield of 96 per cent, says AHDB.