Hunt continues for oilseeds grower to join the RL team

AHDB recently issued its annual call for people to join one of its influential Recommended Lists (RL) crop committees.

There are currently two vacancies across the three crop committees, which play a critical role in the recommendation of cereal and oilseed varieties for the UK.

The RL team received a good number of applications for the pathologist vacancy on the Barley and Oats and Other Cereals Crop Committee by the original closing date (3 January 2025).

However, the application deadline for the second vacancy – for a grower to join the Oilseeds Crop Committee – has been extended until Friday 10 January 2025.

With the RL implementing the findings from its latest review of the variety-trialling project, it is a fantastic time to be a crop committee member and influence the project’s direction.

Paul Gosling, who leads the RL at AHDB, said:

“Collectively, the committee members have the technical and commercial experience necessary to interpret variety trial data and determine which varieties get included in trials and, ultimately, recommended. These roles underpin the RL and are highly rewarding.”

What does it involve?

The RL crop committees:

• Agree on agronomic and quality definitions for varietal recommendation
• Select candidate varieties for trial
• Propose new varieties to add to the RL

Committee members meet three times a year: generally, May/June, August/September and November.

Successful applicants receive support and reasonable allowances to cover costs during their three-year terms.

How to apply

Applications, cover letters (describing the applicant’s interest in varieties and what they believe they can contribute to the RL) and CVs should be sent to Paul Gosling: paul.gosling@ahdb.org.uk

The anticipated interview date via MS Teams (online) is 16 January 2025.

For further information on these opportunities, please call Paul Gosling on 07817 170156.

Structure of the crop committees*

Barley, Oats and other cereals

• 1 Chair (agronomist)
• 2 BSPB representatives
• 1 MAGB representative
• 1 BOBMA representative
• 1 SWRI representative
• 2 Growers
• 2 Agronomists
• 1 Independent pathologist
• 2 Grain traders

Oilseeds

• 1 Chair (agronomist)
• 2 BSPB representatives
• 3 Growers
• 3 Agronomists
• 1 Independent pathologist
• 1 Oilseeds trader

Wheat Crop Committee

• 1 Chair (agronomist)
• 2 BSPB representatives
• 1 UKFM representative
• 1 SWRI representative
• 2 Growers
• 2 Agronomists
• 1 Independent pathologist
• 1 Grain trader

*Structures based on the RL Crop Committee handbook 2024, available at ahdb.org.uk/rl-protocols

In the most recent RL review (2022–2023), levy payers asked us to provide more information about the variety trials, including how they operate and how we make recommendation decisions. For the 2024–25 growing season, we are bringing the RL protocols to life from one of our winter wheat trial sites in Norfolk.