Previously listed on the AHDB Recommended List (RL) as a provisional Group 1 for 2026/27, Arlington’s full approval confirms its place among the UK’s elite breadmaking wheats and gives growers a new high-performing option for the milling market for the coming season.

DSV UK wheat breeder Dr Matt Kerton says Arlington has completed all commercial assessments and is officially confirmed as a UKFM Group 1 milling wheat.

“Arlington is a variety that perfectly balances strong yield, top-tier baking performance and excellent agronomic traits, and has the second highest untreated yield on the entire RL,” he says.

“Our breeding programme is focused on delivering varieties that perform well for farmers in the field but also meet the high standards required by millers.

“The commercial assessment results from the long-awaited bake by UK Flour Millers, have confirmed what we have seen throughout testing, which is exciting news.”

UK Flour Millers head of technical and regulatory affairs, Joe Brennan, adds: “Flour milling sector demand for wheat is strong and consistent season to season.

“We hope new Group 1 varieties such as Arlington establish themselves and provide millers a consistent source of high-quality homegrown wheat.”

Dr Kerton adds, Arlington has the protein, gluten strength, water absorption and bake performance required of a true Group 1 wheat, while also bringing the agronomic resilience growers need.

“Arlington has been bred to combine end-use quality with robust field performance, Arlington delivers a UK treated yield of 99% of controls, just 1% behind the current Group 1 benchmark in AHDB data,” he says.

“It is also the highest-yielding Group 1 in the East region and the highest-yielding second wheat in the category,” he says.

Arlington has a milling specification protein content of 12.5%, Hagberg Falling Number of 309s and specific weight of 78.9kg/hl. UK millers have also highlighted its strong gluten quality, high water absorption, excellent bake performance and good loaf volume.

Dr Kerton says the variety should feel familiar to growers with experience of Skyfall, while offering a more modern performance profile.

“Arlington is agronomically very similar to Skyfall, which has been the benchmark for Group 1 wheat for several years, but it brings stronger untreated performance and a valuable disease package.

Dr. Kerton says Arlington also offers key benefits. "It’s disease resistance package is impressive, particularly when it comes to Septoria and yellow rust.

"With a 7.0 for both, outperforming other Group 1 varieties on the market. It also features resistance to orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM) - only one of two varieties to have this in Group 1 - and carries PCH1 resistance to eyespot.

“It also has a low vernalisation requirement, giving growers flexibility around later drilling, while its short, stiff straw helps reduce lodging risk and protect yield through to harvest.”