13 new varieties added to the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists

Ten new varieties of ryegrass, two Hybrid and one Timothy (grass) have been added to the 2020/2021 Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL) for England and Wales.

 Only grasses and clovers that have undergone at least four years of independent testing are included in the lists. Varieties are rigorously tested for factors such as total and seasonal yield, feed quality, disease and persistence before making the RGCL.

 Siwan Howatson, AHDB Grass & Forage Scientist, said: “The lists are an invaluable resource for grassland farmers, enabling them to select varieties that will perform well in a particular system.

 “When thinking about reseeding, farmers should check the RGCL to ensure that the varieties being selected are on the lists and are the best available to meet their needs. This will help them make informed decisions alongside their seed merchants.”

 In addition to providing information on the varieties, the RGCL handbook also includes a range of technical information for farmers on how they can manage their reseed and maximise the productivity of their grassland.

 The 2020/2021 RGCL handbook and the full lists for merchants will be available to download from ahdb.org.uk and britishgrassland.com/rgcl from 7 May 2020.  The online interactive version for perennial ryegrasses has been updated and will be available at ahdb.org.uk/