14+ t/ha.

The AHDB Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds celebrates its eightieth birthday in August.  Currently AHDB reported results exceed 14 t/ha whilst many UK farmers are unlikely to average 7.0 t/ha over their autumn 2024 planted wheat area.  Of course we can adjust figures by only including the area we actually combined and forget those areas that were re-drilled to spring barley; in which case averages improve significantly.

Consider for one minute that AHDB statistics state a difference of 0.6 t/ha needs to be incorporated into your thinking with regards published yields.  That means that 10 varieties are all “top yielders” rather than just one.

AHDB trials work has its own protocols not least those associated with drilling date, position within the rotation, method of cultivation and establishment along with soil textural analysis. Factor these items in and then deduct a further 20% from your yield result and you are getting closer to what might be achievable on Mr Smith or Mr Evans farm.

The maths:-

                  14 - 0.6

       = 13.4

                  13.4 - 20%

       = 10.7

That means that any one of your top 10 varieties should be achieving a top yield of or averaging around 10.7 t/ha in a typical farm situation.

The published 24/25 recommended list has five new varieties included within it.  (Those sown in autumn 2024).  Not one of these five are in the top 10 yielding slot at this current time with only KWS Solitaire appearing to have lived up to its promise from the previous year.

It is going to be interesting to see how things might change by the end of the harvest period.

At the moment with uncertainty surrounding the validity of published results pertaining to disease resistance and susceptibility within an ever-changing fungal population, no account or record being made of varieties ability to tolerate adverse weather conditions and less emphasis being placed on the recommended lists direct benefit for farmers one is left wondering as to the value for money obtained within this current assessment protocol.