Winter oats recommended list

Recommended List winter oats trials complete, with large falls in yields in both fungicide-treated and fungicide-untreated trials

• Results from all ten fungicide-treated and nine of the corresponding fungicide-untreated RL winter oat trials are now available
• One fungicide-untreated trial was rejected after harvest due to poor data quality
• Average yield of control varieties in fungicide-treated trials is 7.24 t/ha, which is 1.51 t/ha below the 5-year average
• Average yield of control varieties in fungicide-untreated trials is 6.19 t/ha, which is 0.82 t/ha below the 5-year average

The harvest results from all ten RL winter oat fungicide-treated trials are now available. Yield results from the final trials in Shropshire, North Yorkshire and Co. Down are now available. Each site has both a fungicide-treated and fungicide-untreated trial, though the fungicide-untreated trial in Kent was rejected after harvest because of poor data quality. The Kent trial is the lowest yielding fungicide-treated trial, with controls averaging 5.31 t/ha, while the Shropshire site is highest yielding on 8.32 t/ha.

The final average yield of control varieties in the fungicide-treated trials stands at 7.24 t/ha, compared with the five-year average of 8.75 t/ha, while in the fungicide-untreated trials the average yield of controls is 6.19 t/ha 0.82 t/ha below the five-year average. There were very high levels of crown rust in the Devon trial which came in prior to panicle emergence, which had a dramatic effect on the yield of some varieties in this trial.

Grain quality data is a critical factor for milling oats and results from eight of the ten trials shows the impact of the drought and heat, with high sieving’s (screenings) at some sites, notably the Essex site.

Calculating yield results

Yields are represented as a percentage of the control varieties. In 2026, Dalguise, Mascani and Cromwell are the control varieties. The average yield from these varieties is represented as 100%.

2026 averages

In the fungicide‑treated trials the highest‑yielding variety is the husked year‑4 candidate Maunsell from Senova, at 112%, which will be considered for recommendation in autumn 2026. Among currently recommended varieties, RGT Southwark is highest yielding on 110%, followed by the newly recommended Rannoch on 107%, Cromwell on 102% and Dalguise on 101%. Mascani is at 97%. All these varieties, with the exception of Dalguise have yielded at or above their 5-year average.

Grain quality remains central to oat performance and the year‑4 candidate Maunsell has good kernel content in 2026, but specific weight is on the low side and sieving’s are higher than some varieties. Grain quality data forms an important part of the decision whether to recommend oat varieties, when data from the last three years will be considered.

In the fungicide‑untreated trials, the year‑4 candidate Maunsell is highest yielding on 132%, driven by its high crown rust resistance. Rannoch is on 122% and RGT Southwark is on 118%, with crown rust ratings of 7 and 6 respectively. Dalguise has finished on 102%, with low yields in the Co. Down and Shropshire trials bringing down the final yield. Mascani has also finished on 102%, with Cromwell lowest yielding of the husked varieties on 97%.

Naked varieties typically yield lower but serve a distinct market. The only currently recommended naked variety is Peloton on 78% in fungicide-treated trials, very close to its five-year average. The year‑3 candidate Falcon is some way behind at 74%, though Falcon will not be eligible for recommendation until autumn 2027. In the fungicide‑untreated trials Peloton is on 84% and Falcon on 82%, both just behind their 5-year average.

Five-year averages

The 2026 results represent yields from a single season, and while useful, they provide only a snapshot in what has been an extreme year. The five‑year average provides a better indication of varietal performance across seasons and offers a clearer view of whether varieties are likely to be recommended in the autumn.

Based on the five‑year averages, RGT Southwark and the year‑4 candidate Maunsell are highest yielding on 107%, closely followed by newly recommended Rannoch on 106%. Dalguise is just behind these on 103% with Cromwell on 102%.Macani is someway behind on 95%.

In fungicide‑untreated trials, Maunsell is highest yielding on 122%, with Rannoch on 119% and RGT Southwark on 115%. Cromwell is on 104% despite lower disease resistance ratings, with Dalguise, and Mascani someway behind on 98%.

For the naked varieties, the year‑3 candidate Falcon is highest yielding at 78%, with the currently recommended Peloton at 77%. However, in fungicide‑untreated trials, Peloton is higher yielding at 85%, with Falcon slightly behind at 83%.

Further information

Access full trial results

AHDB Recommended Lists (RL) trials test variety performance under optimum conditions. Care should be taken when making comparisons with commercial yields. Results from individual trial sites should not be used to make conclusions on variety performance. The RL publications are based on information from trials across the UK over several seasons. As more information becomes available from the current harvest, this will contribute to the over-trials averages – which comprise four years for oilseeds and five years for cereals. These averages provide better information for comparison between varieties. Performance variation is not the responsibility of AHDB. Since the focus is to test new varieties, not all RL varieties are presented. Yields for well-established varieties are published at ahdb.org.uk/rl