A greater emphasis on resiliance with varieties that reliably deliver high yields in ever more challenging seasons is evident in the new winter wheat line-up.

Varieties which combine high yield with strong agronomic characteristics, especially disease resistance, dominated the newcomers.

Of the nine new wheat additions, two have 7s for septoria, eight have a yellow rust score of 8 or 9 and five have 8s or 9s for mildew.

This focus on resiliance will intensify, as the AHDB Recommended List system starts to assess the relative risk of new varieties compared with proven existing ones.

The 2016-17 wheat list has also been slimmed down, with 14 losing their place. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in the Group 2 Nabim category, which now has just two varieties, Lili and Cordiale, and no newcomers.

See also: How Northumberland came to the top of the world wheat map

Group 1

In the Group 1s, Illustrious has been provisionally recommended, having already attracted miller support.

From the same breeding programme as Skyfall, it is lightly lower yielding at 100% and later to mature at +2, but has a stronger disease package and a higher untreated yield.

“Certainly the millers like Illustrious” says Barry Barker, Agrii’s national arable seed manager. “It has the functionality at lower protein levels, which may prove n advantage when the contracts are revealed.”

However, it will have to compete with two well-established Group 1 varieties – Skyfall and Crusoe – which together have 15-18% market share, he says.

“I’m not sure how much more market share there is, but Illustrious is a good addition that puts the older types in the shade.”

Chris Guest, seed manager at Gleadell, believes having more top-quality wheats is a good thing for everyone. “The more the better, and as the milling industry is very excited about Illustrious, we have every confidence in it.”

Not only that, its good disease package and standing ability will be welcomed by growers, he adds.

Clare Leaman, Niab Tag cereals specialist, points out that the future success of Illustrious is now in the hands of the millers and bakers. “There are no downsides with it agronomically, so it’s going to be all down to how they value it.

“As its protein content is relatively low, introducing mechanisms such as lower-protein contracts could be the way to get people to grow it.”

Group 4

Five new hard feed wheats were recommended, including one which had previously been considered a potential Group 2.

Silverstone takes the lead as the highest-yielding winter wheat variety at 106%, but comes with a health warning about its straw strength.

“Silverstone has performed even better in the North, at 111%, but many growers will be wary about the lodging risk,” says Mrs Leaman. “For them, the other new feed varieties may be a better bet.”

Mr Guest points out that Silverstone has performed consistently in trials across the years, and suggests it is a variety suited to lighter soils. “It’s not an early driller and you will need to look after it with plant growth regulators.”

Siskin, which was up for recommendation as a potential Group 2, has slipped down to the Group 4 sector (see “Siskin surprise”) and been recommended with a yield of 105%.

“This was a surprise to the seed trade, which hadn’t been given any indication of what was coming,” reveals Mr Barker. “And while it is still a very good variety, with a much needed septoria rating of 7, this development will reduce its market share potential.”

That’s because it is now up against other high-yielding hard feed types, both new and existing, in a more competitive sector.

However, Mrs Leaman doesn’t believe this will be a problem for Siskin. “It was always likely to be widely grown as a feed variety and it still has the potential to be sold to wider markets. It meets the requirements for ukp [export] and it has a decent hagberg.

“If you can keep it separately from your other feed wheats, it may pay.”

David Waite of Frontier picks Siskin as a good variety for the Midlands and the North, where Group 4s are the obvious choice for the bioethanol and starch markets. “It has the yield and the robust agronomics,” he points out.

Also on a yield of 105% is Belgrade, from Saaten Union, which has been approved for the east and west regions. A slightly earlier variety, with a maturity score of -1, it has a lower specific weight than others and a 6 rating for lodging.

For Mr Waite, Belgrade’s early maturity means growers will be able to get oilseed rape in behind it. “It’s one for the Midlands and South, but not for the early drilling slot.”

Graham, from Syngenta, with a very slightly lower yield of 104%, has more potential, says Mrs Leaman. “A septoria rating of 7 will attract interest from growers, as will its better performance in the West.”

Mr Barker agrees and reports that it has been the top-yielding variety in Agrii trials for the past two years.

“It has early maturity, good disease resistance and suitability for early drilling. It’s a little bit different, which makes it stand out.”

The final newcomer is Crispin, with a yield of 104%. Having performed very well in Gleadell trials, it appears to have a place when drilled from late September onwards, believes Mr Guest.

Newcomers face tough challenge

The three new soft Group 3 varieties recommended this time around are in the unenviable position of entering a shrinking market, points out Chris Guest of Gleadell.

“While it is good to see improvements coming along, the market conditions will make it difficult for all of them to find a following,” he comments. “That’s no reflection on them, rather the situation they find themselves in.”

Heading the sector is Barrel with a yield of 105%, putting it on a par with many of the feed varieties, but with more marketing options, including biscuit and export.

“It’s a farmer-friendly variety. It has a decent specific weight and good disease resistance, so it will be of interest. It also has a northern yield of 113%, which although based on limited data, could give it real appeal up there.”

Frontier’s David Waite is of the same opinion. “It has good national yield, but it’s exceptional for the North. It also has standing ability.”

Basset has a yield of 103% and also offers export potential. “It may not have quite the yield of Barrel, but it’s still a step up,” believes Niab Tag’s Clare Leaman. “And along with Barrel, it offers midge resistance.”

Spyder from Senova has an east and west regions recommendation and a yield of 101%, but has the best untreated yield of the three, as well as a septoria rating of 6. “It’s a good variety, but there are two new ones ahead of it. However, it isn’t suitable for export.”

For Barry Barker of Agrii, all the three latest additions will have to compete with Zulu, which is the established Group 3 variety.

“The Group 3 market will have to suddenly expand to give all of these a chance. But it does mean growers have more choice.”