Record-breaking spring oat delivers bumper yield

• Impressive yield ‘twice national average’

• Resilience to variable weather patterns

• More oats to be grown during 2025

A Lincolnshire farm saw Merlin spring oats yield an incredible 11t/ha last summer – over twice the national average.

The unprecedented achievement was achieved by the Happy Days Farming Company, which farms more than 2000ha (5000 acres) of arable crops across Lincolnshire and neighbouring Nottinghamshire.

Farm manager Mark Popplewell attributed the bumper crop to a combination of Merlin’s varietal strengths, optimal nutrition, an unusually wet spring – and beginners luck. “It quickly became clear that we were looking at something exceptional.”

“The yield numbers on the display were so high we initially thought the equipment was faulty,” said Mr Popplewell. “The grain tank was filling much faster than expected, even compared to a strong wheat crop.”

Management

Some 300ha of Merlin were drilled at a 135kg/ha on 30 March following a very wet winter. It was the first oat crop grown by Happy Days Farming. “We were virgin oat growers,” says Mr Popplewell.

The crop followed winter wheat in 2023 and oilseed rape in 2022. The seed was treated with Vibrance Duo, with the crop receiving two growth regulators, two fungicides and micronutrients, with 120kg/ha of nitrogen and 40kg/ha of sulphur trioxide.

“The average yield was 11.5t/ha with the monitor reaching 14t/ha in some places. We’re growing more Merlin in 2025 – the oats fit into the rotation well. We would plant more, but we have wild oats in many fields, so this limits us.”

Plant breeding

Seed supplier Cope says the high yielding crop underlines the importance of advancements in plant breeding. Merlin is a resilient early-to-harvest milling variety, says Cope managing director Gemma Clarke.

“Resilient seed varieties are critical as farmers face increasing challenges from climate change and unpredictable weather. If we see advancements in varieties, we take them forward to official trials and if they perform well, we bring them to market.

“While the conditions this year were unique, the industry is having to contend with more unpredictable weather and demonstrates the need to continue investment in seed breeding to protect the future of farming.”

Performance

On the back of the Merlin’s high yield, Ms Clarke says Cope has applied for a Yield Enhancement Network award for the Lincolnshire crop. But the variety is a consistent performer, so this is unlikely to be a one-off, she adds.

“The combination of an early harvest, making it suitable for all regions of the UK, high disease resistance and strong yield potential means it’s attractive to farmers nationwide,” says Ms Clarke.

“Merlin is accepted by all mills – and is one of only two spring varieties on spring oat contracts. It’s an early variety (-1), offers a competitive lodging score of 7, and has a high rating of 8 for mildew.

“It also has low screenings which is a real bonus to the mills and a good specific weight,” says Ms Clarke.