The autumn planting season is in full swing, or at least it is where and when ground is good enough. Many growers have chosen varieties over the past four months or so. Others will plant what is in merchants’ yards on the day in question.

Most will rely on varieties on the recommended list, because seed is readily available, but others will plant some of their area to varieties that have done well across the water.

Growers and others have done this for many years and some good varieties emerge while others meet a disappointing year. Growers often ask why a ‘hot’ variety on the UK list is not being recommended in Ireland.

The answer to that question is that either the breeder or the agent has chosen not to make it available because of weaknesses for our market. Sometimes significant weaknesses are found in either the seed house or the Department’s trialling system.

I asked Seamus Kearney from the Department’s crop variety evaluation section about wheat varieties that are yielding well in Britain that are not on the recommended list here.

While not everything on the UK recommended list, or list of candidate varieties, has been tested in Ireland, most have.

UK recommended wheats

Variety: Skyfall.

Breeder: RAGT.

UK treated average: 101.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Limited yield.

Variety: KWS Siskin.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Lodging risk. Average on septoria.

Variety: KWS Barrel.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Variety: Britannia.

Breeder: Limagrain.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Poor straw strength and lodging.

Variety: KWS Basset.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 103.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Lower KPH and sprouting.

Variety: Zulu.

Breeder: Limagrain.

UK treated average: 101.

Irish trials: No.

Variety: Leeds.

Breeder: Momont.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Weak on septoria, mildew and sprouting.

Variety: Myriad.

Breeder: Limagrain.

UK treated average: 102.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Lack of yield potential.

Variety: Viscount.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 102.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Susceptibility to sprouting and lodging.

Variety: Revelation.

Breeder: Limagrain.

UK treated average: 101.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Very late maturing. Quality not great.

Variety: Horatio.

Breeder: Limagrain.

UK treated average: 101.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Weak on yellow rust and sprouting.

Variety: KWS Silverstone.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 106.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Straw strength.

Variety: Reflection.

Breeder: Syngenta.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Wiped out by yellow rust.

Variety: KWS Santiago.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Weak on septoria and yellow rust and not great on specific weight.

Variety: Evolution.

Breeder: Sejet.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Slight question over lodging and grain quality. Commercial decision.

Variety: Belgrade.

Breeder: Sejet.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Very poor on standing.

Variety: KWS Kielder.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Bad on sprouting. Poor grain quality.

Variety: Graham.

Breeder: Syngenta.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: Yes.

Variety: KWS Crispin.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Very weak on septoria.

UK candidate varieties.

Variety: Shabras.

Breeder: Syngenta.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Bad with sprouting.

Variety: Savello.

Breeder: Syngenta.

UK treated average: 102.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Bad on sprouting and lodging and lower specific weight.

Variety: KWS Zyatt.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 102.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: Yes.

Variety: KWS Kerrin.

Breeder: KWS.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Poor grain quality, low hagberg and sprouting.

Variety: Elation.

Breeder: Elsom Seeds.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Low yield and weak straw.

Variety: Elicit.

Breeder: Elsom Seeds.

UK treated average: 103.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Weak straw.

Variety: RGT Gravity.

Breeder: RGT.

UK treated average: 107.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Bad on septoria and only average yield.

Variety: Verso.

Breeder: Syngenta.

UK treated average: 104.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Very poor on sprouting resistance.

Variety: Gleam.

Breeder: Syngenta.

UK treated average: 105.

Irish trials: Yes.

In trials still: No.

Reason for rejection: Bad on sprouting.