High-yielding cereals that help growers respond to farming challenges was the key focus of Syngenta variety plots at the event.

This was a major theme of the variety plots on the Syngenta stand, with a total of five of the eight wheat and barley varieties on the stand being newly-recommended on the AHDB Recommended List for 2016.

“For winter feed wheat growers, alongside our high-yielding variety Reflection, which achieved a 10% share of the winter feed wheat market in its launch season this year, our newly-recommended hard feed wheat, Graham, will be making its debut on the stand,” explained Syngenta’s seeds and seedcare campaign manager, Mark Bullen.

“In addition to delivering strong yields on the AHDB Recommended List, a key point is it provides growers with a step forward in septoria tritici resistance. Plus it has stiff straw and early maturity, so is set to offer an attractive new option alongside Reflection.”

He added: “Over recent seasons, as well as having highest barley yields, the vigorous growth of Hyvido hybrid barley has been proven to suppress black-grass. So as well as the tried and trusted hybrid, Volume, we will be demonstrating our newly recommended hybrids, Hyvido Bazooka and Hyvido Belfry.

“These varieties from the Hyvido stable offer even higher yields and improved agronomic characteristics in a number of areas, including disease resistance and lodging resistance.

“For spring malting barley growers, we will be demonstrating our newly-recommended varieties, Laureate and Fairing,” he said.

Laureate is the highest yielding spring malting barley under test for both distilling and brewing on the AHDB Recommended List and, like Propino, is being registered across Europe.

The second new spring malting variety, Fairing is aimed specifically for grain distilling. In addition to having high rhynchosporium resistance, it is early maturing, so should suit in Scotland.