Winter oats recommended list

Initial low yields for Recommended List winter oats reflect a season of extreme heat and low rainfall

• Results from three fungicide-treated and the corresponding fungicide-untreated RL winter oat trials now available
• Initial yields are showing the impact of consistent high temperatures and minimal rainfall
• Average yield of control varieties in fungicide-treated trials is 7.73t/ha, which is 1.31t/ha below the 5-year average
• Average yield of control varieties in fungicide-untreated trials is 5.57t/ha, which is 1.51t/ha below the 5-year average

The harvest results for the first RL winter oat trials are now available. Yield results from three sites in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Devon are available, with each site having both a fungicide-treated and fungicide-untreated trial. See the full list of trials for 2026.

While only one trial has been harvested earlier than 2025, the average control yields of all three are down compared with last year.

The average yield of control varieties in the fungicide-treated trials stands at 7.73t/ha, compared with the five-year average of 9.04t/ha, while in the fungicide-untreated trials the average yield of controls is currently 5.57t/ha well below the five-year average of 7.08t/ha. This is partially reflective of very high levels of crown rust in the Devon trial which came in prior to panicle emergence.

2025/2026 season

The season began positively for RL winter oat trials, with drilling completed in favourable conditions and crops holding their condition well through the winter. This was followed by periods of extreme temperature and a severe lack of rainfall, which restricted yield potential.

BYDV has been recorded at significant levels in a small number of winter oat trials this year. RL trials are treated for aphids in the autumn to control BYDV, and although symptoms have been observed during inspections, they have not reached levels that would justify abandoning a trial. Yield impact will be assessed post‑harvest to confirm trial validity.

Crown rust has also appeared at high levels in several fungicide-untreated trials, particularly at sites in Devon and Shropshire, clearly differentiating varieties with stronger resistance from those more susceptible. Mildew continues to be the dominant disease present in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

In dry seasons such as 2025 and 2026, growers are understandably keen to identify varieties that perform well under drought stress. However, generating reliable drought‑response data remains difficult. Trials affected by drought often show substantial within‑trial variability driven by subtle soil‑type differences that influence water availability. This makes it challenging to separate environmental effects from true varietal drought tolerance. As a result, the most drought‑affected trials may be rejected for yield, although none have required rejection so far in 2026.

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

With only four of the ten paired fungicide‑treated and fungicide-untreated trials reported so far, interpretation of results should be approached with caution.

In the fungicide‑treated trials, the highest‑yielding variety is the husked year‑4 candidate Maunsell at 116%, which will be considered for recommendation in autumn 2026. Among currently recommended varieties, RGT Southwark leads at 111%, followed closely by the newly recommended Rannoch at 109%. Dalguise sits at 106%. Mascani is at 97%. As always, grain quality remains central to oat performance, and no grain quality data have yet been received for the H2026 candidates.

In the fungicide‑untreated trials, the year‑4 candidate Maunsell again tops the list at 155%, though this figure is heavily influenced by its exceptional performance at the Devon site, where crown rust pressure was extremely high. Rannoch is at 126%, and RGT Southwark at 113%, with crown rust ratings of 7 and 6 respectively.

Naked varieties typically yield lower but serve a distinct market. In the fungicide‑treated trials, the highest‑yielding naked oat is the only currently recommended variety, Peloton at 78%, with the year‑3 candidate Falcon close behind at 75%, though Falcon will not be eligible for recommendation until autumn 2027. Peloton also leads the naked oats in the fungicide‑untreated trials at 81%, with Falcon again close at 80%.

Five-year averages

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

Based on the five‑year averages, RGT Southwark is currently the highest‑yielding variety at 107%, closely followed by the newly recommended Rannoch and the year‑4 candidate Maunsell, both at 106%. In fungicide‑untreated trials, Maunsell leads at 122%, with Rannoch at 119% and RGT Southwark at 114%.

For naked varieties, the year‑3 candidate Falcon is highest yielding at 79%, with the currently recommended Peloton at 77%. However, in fungicide‑untreated trials, Peloton is higher yielding at 85%, with Falcon slightly behind at 83%.

With more than half of trial sites still to report, yield results and variety rankings are likely to shift as additional data come in.

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