UK trials reveal spring oats grown with fewer inputs produce .

New UK trials have revealed that spring oats grown with fewer inputs deliver higher grain quality. At the centre of these findings is Merlin, the spring oat variety proving that less can be more.

Across both treated and untreated trials, Merlin produced the highest yields, clean samples, and more resilient crops when grown with minimal chemical inputs.

"Trial data also shows that specific weight of untreated Merlin spring oat crops in 2025 outperformed treated crops, demonstrating its ability to be grown in lower input systems," explains Dominic Amos, research agronomist & natural capital specialist at Cope.

"Merlin has shown consistent performance across a wide range of farming systems, from organic, to low input and conventional programmes. The key difference is that Merlin does not need additional inputs to produce clean, marketable grain, giving growers greater flexibility in how they manage the crop," says Dominic. "During spring droughts, certain crop protection inputs can increase crop stress, with consequent negative impacts."

The independent trials took place at Agrii Throws Farm Technology Centre in Essex, and Revesby in Lincolnshire and growers and agronomists reported that Merlin had:

·       The highest treated and untreated yields overall

·       Higher grain quality - including the highest specific weight in untreated trials

·       Cleaner, lower disease crops without fungicides

·       Stronger standing power and earlier maturity

·       Better crop health in untreated systems

In the untreated trials, Merlin achieved 120% versus Isabel at 99% of control at Agrii's trial site at Revesby in Lincolnshire and 113% versus Isabel at 86% of control at Agrii Throws Farm in Essex. 

"With only 8% lodging, Merlin held its position as one of the best-standing varieties," says Dominic. "Its earliness also helps it to cope better in spring droughts compared to slower developing varieties."

Merlin continues to be accepted by all mills across the UK for its high grain quality, including its low screenings, which are the lowest of any variety on the Recommended List, and which remains an important trait for mills.  

Following on from trials results, Cope samples, tested internally from growers this harvest showed that organic oats in general had a higher average specific weight than conventional oats, with a difference of around 2.5%, corroborating the results from the Agrii trial sites.

Organic Merlin grower experiences: 'Cleaner than many conventional crops'

From the wet 2024 season to the drought-hit 2025 harvest, Merlin delivered reliable yields, quality and crop health, reinforcing its reputation as the most consistent, resilient spring oat across seasons.

After two contrasting seasons, including a drought-affected 2025, Phil Gordon-Jones of Fir Farm, Cheltenham, says Merlin has delivered reliable yields and resilience in organic conditions:

"We've been very happy and surprised how well Merlin has grown, especially in a year like this. In 2024 we had just under 5.5 t/ha, and with drought in 2025 it dropped to 4 t/ha, still very good for an organic oat."

Highlighting grain and straw quality from an organic system, John Cresswell, an organic farmer in Northumberland, says Merlin stood out for cleanliness and overall sample quality:

"The crop was exceptionally clean - remarkably so for organic - and the straw quality is the best we've ever seen. The grain in store is clean, plump and analysed very well. We'll definitely grow Merlin again."

In Somerset, where Merlin was used flexibly for both forage and grain in a challenging season, Theo Coleman of the AH Warren Trust says the variety consistently outperformed alternatives:

"Merlin established well and performed well even in such an adverse season. It's a step ahead of Isabel and always my first choice for spring oats. Merlin served two roles this year: whole-crop for forage, and grain. It was the cleanest crop we've grown in a long time - it looked like a conventional crop, not organic."

These findings point to a major shift for UK oat growers, selecting varieties bred for strength, standing power and natural cleanliness may deliver better grain quality than relying on input-heavy programmes.

Merlin stands out as the leading example and a variety where reduced inputs don't compromise performance but enhance it.

If you're interested in growing Merlin spring oats, contact your local seed merchant.