Throughout harvest 2023, we are updating our handy map with the latest data from 2023’s AHDB winter barley Recommended List harvest results.

Use the map below to find the five highest-yielding winter barley varieties at your nearest AHDB trials site.

See also: Last year’s 5 top-yielding winter barley varieties

Winter barley summary

With results from 13 of the 16 sites, the 2023 control mean of the fungicide-treated trials stands at 10.15 t/ha, well above the five year average of 9.76 t/ha and the mean of the fungicide untreated trials at 8.83 t/ha, again well above the five-year average of 8.03 t/ha.

The weather has provided a severe test of straw strength though and we have seen of lodging in a number of trials.

Varieties

In the fungicide-treated trials the six-row hybrid varieties are dominating the yield rankings this season, with Kingsbarn leading (110%), well above its five-year average, followed by Thunderbolt (108%) with Belfry, Kingston and Canyon all on 106%.

Newly recommended Nephin and Bazooka are just behind on (105%).

Lightning (105%) has had a strong season in 2023 and leads the two-row varieties in fungicide-treated yield. The newly recommended two-row variety Caravelle is just behind on 104%, with Tardis on 103%.

Newly recommended two-row Bolivia (101%) has had a disappointing 2023 and is 2% below its five-year average. Also struggling in 2023 is barley yellow dwarf virus tolerant six-row conventional variety Feeris (99%) also below its five-year average.

Two-row malting varieties are performing close to their five year averages in 2023, with Electrum on 97%, Craft  on 91% and the newly recommended variety Buccaneer at 98%. As Buccaneer is still under test for malting growers should speak to merchants about markets before committing to the variety.