First Winter Barley Trial Results Available

Winter barley yields have been collected for seven out of twenty winter barley RL sites with the first site harvested in Lincolnshire struggling to make much of an impression averaging 5.4 tonnes/ha, according to the HGCA.

Aug 2 2011 --- Winter barley yields have been collected for seven out of twenty winter barley RL sites with the first site harvested in Lincolnshire struggling to make much of an impression averaging 5.4 tonnes/ha, according to the HGCA.

Crops harvested later have been more impressive, with the best yields coming from regions not affected by drought, in particular an average yield of 9.5 tonnes/ha for one Scottish Borders site.  The overall average to date is a respectable 7.65 tonnes per hectare given the season so far.

The six row hybrid Volume tops the scales at 117% of the control yields, but the candidate KWS Meridian is holding its own at 116%. The two row variety Retriever stands out well on yield and has performed strongly at three sites in the drought-affected east and in the north.

First results for winter oilseed rape expected later this week.