With the online edition of the AHDB’s Recommended List now live, Frontier Agriculture’s seed specialists believe there are some exciting new additions to broaden growers’ rotational plans in 2024.

On wheat in particular, seed business development manager, Jim Knightbraid, believes the release of five new winter varieties provides some much-needed diversity to the sector.

New varieties will cause a stir
“These additions breathe new life into what were very tired looking Group 1 bread-making and Group 3 biscuit markets,” Jim explains.

Of the new options, Jim notes that Group 4 hard variety LG Beowulf is likely to offer the broadest appeal to growers. “This variety was a consistent performer across five Frontier replicated trial sites for harvest 2023”, he says. “It demonstrates the very best combination of features from parent varieties Gleam and Costello, so is a really welcome addition to the market.”

Other stand-out additions include new Group 3 variety Bamford and new Group 4 soft variety Blackstone. Most welcome in the wheat category though is likely to be a new, eagerly anticipated bread-making variety.

Festive 'Cheer' for Group 1 growers
Seven years after the last recommendation of a Group 1 wheat, SY Cheer now joins the ranks as a provisional bread-making variety for 2024 (UK Flour Millers approval due in March).

“This could be really welcome news for Group 1 growers,” says Jim. “The impressive untreated yields of SY Cheer could offer some much-needed insurance for those who have been battling with yellow and brown rust in recent years.”

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Get in touch for more in-depth commentary from Frontier’s seed experts

Jim Knightbraid and Frontier regional seed manager, Chris Piggott can be contacted directly for more technical insight on the varieties featured in the new AHDB Recommended List.

As well as a more in-depth analysis of the wheat options now available, Jim and Chris can also comment on the latest recommendations for winter barley and winter oilseed rape, including the first BYDV tolerant hybrid barley, SY Buzzard, and a new leading 2-row barley: LG Capitol. They can also share more about the varietal outlook for the new season, as well as insights from Frontier’s national variety trials network and partnership work with plant breeders.

Jim Knightbraid jim.knightbraid@frontierag.co.uk 07824 867689

Chris Piggott chris.piggott@frontierag.co.uk 07920 781192