Productivity boost from new varieties

KWS varieties top AHDB wheat and barley lists

Eight new wheat varieties and four new barleys from KWS have won a place on the Recommended List for 2025/26.

Covering all groups and sectors, many of the varieties set new standards for yield, quality and consistency of production, says KWS head of product management Kate Cobbold.

The arrival of the new genetics redefines the potential of varieties within the traditional Group system with many of the additions introducing new levels of dual purpose versatility.

“Seven out of the ten winter wheat additions on the new RL are KWS varieties, with the number of top spots achieved reflecting our continuing focus on breeding varieties with the highest productivity for growers.”

KWS says it remains focused on delivering the highest yield and end-product marketability to maximise revenue for growers. But the company is also building in the best agronomic properties and disease resistance traits into its varieties.

“Achieving this has meant combining a wide range of genetic diversity, bringing together the best of UK, German and French parentage to give them real world resilience and durability,” says Ms Cobbold.

“Our new varieties stand alongside proven market leaders like Extase, Dawsum and Tardis as a new generation of varieties focused on helping producers meet the challenges of the future from both economic and growing perspectives.”

Benchmark Vibe

New Group 1 wheat KWS Vibe slots into the new list behind KWS Zyatt for yield. But it has the overall highest protein production potential on the list, says KWS conventional crop manager Olivia Bacon.

“We believe KWS Vibe is the new ‘protein banker’ for the UK with the best combination of yield and protein of all varieties, but with a much better package for growers than previous varieties.

“Its yield of 98% of controls combined with a milling specification protein content of 13.2% sets it apart from its competitors, as does the most comprehensive agronomic package of all the key Group 1 players.

“This includes an 8 for yellow rust, a 6 for brown rust and a 6.6 for septoria tritici resistance combined with a Hagberg falling number of 283 and specific weight of 79.1 kg/hl. It really has everything you would wish to see in a Group 1.”

Top trio

With three new KWS varieties entering Group 2 taking the first three spots for outright yield, Ms Bacon says the sector is changing, particularly in light of the renewed appeal of Group 1 as a result of KWS Vibe.

“KWS Extase set a new standard for septoria resistance and untreated yield when it was introduced five years ago and many growers started choosing it for this reason, rather than its milling potential.”

New Group 2 additions KWS Arnie, KWS Equipe and KWS Newbie build on this position by adding improved disease resistance and higher yields combined with the same excellent milling potential.

“In addition to their strong trait sets, this makes them a valuable agronomic tool across a range of different production scenarios which altogether makes them a powerful addition to any portfolio.”

All markets covered

Turning to Group 3, new additions KWS Solitaire and KWS Flute can also be seen as Group ‘disrupters’ with their potential to serve all market opportunities be they distilling, export, feed or biscuits, says Ms Bacon.

“Like Group 2, Group 3 is also evolving with these new genetics providing a range of opportunities for growers that would not have been possible just a few years ago.

“KWS Solitaire – the top Group 3 variety on the new list with a yield 107% of controls –brings exciting possibilities to all regions. Additional benefits include outstanding septoria tritici resistance for the West and OWBM resistance for the East.

“KWS Flute is also a good Group 3 all-rounder with a yield 106% of controls for the UK generally, rising to [108%] for the North region. It also has good distilling potential for northern growers with good early sowing performance too.”

Highest yielding wheat

In Group 4, where KWS Dawsum’s reliability and all-round strength have made it the UK’s most popular wheat by area grown in recent years, KWS Scope tops the list with a yield of 108% of control for the UK as a whole, says Ms Bacon.

“That rises to 111% in the West region so it’s a true yield monster with the type of agronomic foundation that allows this performance to be delivered across the country plus it has a specific weight significantly higher than the next highest yielder on the list.”

A 7 for yellow rust, a 6 for brown rust and a 6.5 for Septoria tritici resistance give KWS Scope similar agronomics to KWS Dawsum with its specific weight of 78.9 kg/hl right up there too.

Spring alternative

New spring wheat Group 2 KWS Bezique brings yield and strong disease resistance to the Group 2 sector, she adds. KWS Bezique is a good partner on-farm to KWS Alicium and a natural progression for those growing KWS Cochise.

“KWS Bezique has better yellow rust and Septoria tritici resistance than the most popular spring wheat varieties and also has a higher Hagberg falling number than many others.”

Hybrid barley

KWS UK technical manager for hybrid crops Rory Hannam, says the company’s first hybrid barley Inys – which tops the list for winter barley with a yield of 109% – puts the company in a unique position.

“This allows KWS to offer a full portfolio of barley options for all growing situations and market opportunities,” he explains.

“Although hybrids have been a key feature of KWS breeding for many years across crops such as sugar beet, maize, rye and more recently oilseed rape, Inys is our first hybrid barley to be launched, with the UK the first region to introduce it.

“That yield is going to make it very popular with growers, but Inys is a great performer in the field with good standing power and a solid agronomic package. Its 7% for brackling, for example, is the lowest of all hybrid barleys and also one of the lowest on the list.

Conventional barley

“There is without doubt a place for both conventional and hybrid barley varieties on farm. Depending on the end market and local growing conditions, farmers now have options for finding the most appropriate barley.”

KWS Tardis has been the UK’s most popular winter barley for several years and now new KWS Valencis looks like being its natural successor continuing the tradition of high yielding conventional options.

“The highest yielding conventional variety on the new RL with a yield of 106%, KWS Valencis has shown consistent performance across the country and over the last three years with particularly good grain characteristics, too.

“It performs particularly well on light soils and its untreated yield of 91% of controls gives it real versatility in a number of production systems. Even in the challenging year of 2024, KWS Valencis’ strong untreated yield and low brackling held up.”

Spring barley

KWS Enduris is a new potential dual purpose Spring malting barley added to the new RL and currently under macros scale testing for malting recommendation after 2025.

KWS Enduris has a short and stiff plant type with good performance in brewing trials and autumn sowing potential. “It’s one we have high hopes for,” says Ms Bacon.