British growers have embraced the high yields and good quality on offer from new Group 2 varieties, according to Barry Barker (photo), national seed business manager with Dalgety, part of the Masstock Group*. But they are likely to find little lustre in the new Recommended List, unveiled today (1 December). Mr Barker detailed the state of play of the cereal and oilseed variety market during a recent live teleconference. Certified seed sales of the leading Master Seeds** brand and data from other trade sources indicate the popularity of Group 2 varieties has leapt, and they now occupy almost a quarter of the winter wheat market***. "Einstein has been a tremendous success," said Mr Barker. "It's galloped from 6% to 14% market share to take second place in the winter wheat certified plantings. Its unique combination of yield and quality means it will remain a key player for a long time," he predicted. Rumours that Solstice will be upgraded to a Group 1 variety are likely to be unfounded, noted Mr Barker. "Solstice is at the top end of Group 2 quality, and millers do pay a premium for it." But sales of Solstice have dropped back slightly to 4.7% of the market (2004 - 6.9%), mainly due to the late harvest that worked against drilling into the early slot. Cordiale sales (2.8% up from 0.5%) proved interesting, said Mr Barker. "It's found favour in the east, but surprisingly also in the north - this is probably due to its early maturity." The Group 2 rise has largely been at the expense of Group 1 varieties, with the UK total winter wheat area expected to remain largely unchanged at about two million ha. Within Group 1, Xi-19 (2% down from 2.7%) has not done as well as expected, while Group 1 leader Malacca has also dropped away (4% down from 4.9%).

Dalgety's Barry Barker predicts the new HGCA Recommended List, unveiled today, will make little impression on growers. Trade figures indicate last year's newcomers have enjoyed terrific uptake and will continue to hold growers' interests.

In Group 3, Robigus is the big success story, rising from 5.9% to the 16.9% market leader, at the expense of Claire and Consort. "It yields well, stands well and has good resistance to Septoria. It looks set to take up to 25% of the market next year, and has sold particularly well in Scotland - it accounts for 30% of Master Seeds sales north of the border."

Gladiator and Istabraq have made significant inroads in the Group 4 market, taking 4.5% (2004 - 0.6%) and 3% (2004 - 0.1%) respectively of certified sales. "Gladiator is stiffer than Istabraq and that has made it generally more appealing of the two varieties for growers considering drilling a newcomer," noted Mr Barker.

But there will be little new material on the 2005 Home-Grown Cereals Authority Recommended List that will appeal to growers, predicted Mr Barker. "New varieties won't really add anything, apart from Group 4 Glasgow and midge-resistant Brompton." But not even Glasgow is expected to make much of an impression on sales because of its straw strength.

But there is "exciting" new material waiting in the wings, hinted Mr Barker. "We're very keen on Alchemy - a new Group 4 from Nickersons. In National List year two trials it yielded 110% of control with good disease, stiffness and grain quality - it's one to look out for."

In other winter plantings, barley continues to lose favour with growers, dropping to a total area of around 350-360,000ha. Meanwhile oilseed rape is expected to rise to 500,000ha - the biggest area of the crop ever planted, noted Mr Barker.

The malting/feed barley split is nearing 50:50 as poor premiums continue to disappoint growers. "There's Pearl, and very little else on the malting side. Look out for Flagon, which may challenge the incumbent leader."

Carat is the big success story in feed barleys, rising from 10.9% to 16% of certified sales, while Sequel (8% up from 5.8%) has also done well. "Six-rows have fallen back a little, but they still occupy a very significant share of the Scottish market."

Low biomass varieties, such as Monsanto's Castille and Caracas, have made strong gains in the growing oilseed rape market, due to growers having problems harvesting a thicker, bulkier crop in 2004, explained Mr Barker. "Winner and the hybrids didn't do quite so well in relative terms." Lioness and Castille are two varieties to look out for, hinted Mr Barker.

* Masstock Arable (UK) Ltd comprises the following businesses: Acorn Agronomy; Agrownomics; AgSouth; Alan Whittaker (CPS); BBW Cropcare; Cleanacres; Clive Utting; Cropchem; Dalgety; Faulkner & Partners; FSC Agronomy; JB Agronomy; Jeff Beer Agronomy; Kenneth Wilson; Masstock Farm Consultancy; Medicrop; PCC Agronomy; Prince, Doyle & Jenkins; RM Jones; Ryehill Farmservice; Thistle Agronomy

** Dalgety established the market-leading Master Seeds brand 20 years ago and it now accounts for around 97% of the company's annual seed sales, supplying about 20 per cent of the UK certified crop. Varieties are tested ahead of commercialisation at the company's Throws Farm research centre. Agronomic advice from COGS (Co-Ordinated Growing Systems) and SMARTfarming research ensures all Masstock group customers get maximum return from their crops.

*** The figures used accurately reflect total UK certified seed sales. They are based on NIAB national data, actual sales of Master Seeds certified seed and data from other trade sources. 2005 harvest figures for winter wheat certified seed plantings (2004 in brackets): Group 1 - 11.5% (14.9%); Group 2 - 24% (19.1%); Group 3 - 46.8% (49.3%); Group 4 - 17.7% (16.7%). The full presentation can be downloaded from http://www.mistral-pr.co.uk/library/BarryBarker.htm.