IT MIGHT be more than six months away, but those keen to get the latest new winter wheat genetics for this autumn are being urged to 'get your name' on supplies.

With demand likely to outstrip supply for the upcoming stars in the AHDB Recommended List for 2017/18 – 11 new wheats made the grade – demand is expected for the best newcomers, especially those in the soft and hard Group 4 categories.

Advice specialists, Hutchinsons' seed manager, David Bouch, says there are several new players likely to attract attention, particularly those offering high untreated yields.

His advice is based on evaluation of varieties through an extensive network of regional, in-house trials within the group, along with regular contact with all the major seed breeders.

Mr Bouch said seed sales support is particularly important after last year, when some consistent and familiar performers didn’t reach expectations because of a dynamic and rapidly changing disease environment.

“People are increasingly looking at untreated yields now and although it doesn’t necessarily mean you are able to reduce costs by cutting fungicide inputs, it allows ease of management and less concerns for the grower and agronomist in the field,” he pointed out.

Varieties expected to be most in demand, included the new milling wheat KWS Zyatt, which had the highest yield of any Group 1 type on the Recommended List at 102% plus an untreated yield of 91%. It is estimated that seed supply from its breeder, KWS, will only be enough to cover about 8% of the market.

Of the new soft Group 4 wheats, Mr Bouch singled out Limagrain’s LG Sundance as having huge promise and the highest septoria resistance rating on the list at 7.3, making it attractive to growers where disease pressure is high, such as in Scotland.

Its key characteristics include a solid disease resistance package that leads to an untreated yield of 90% (104% fungicide treated), good standing ability and orange wheat blossom midge resistance.

It also has distilling potential, so could be attractive in for Scotland and could take some market share from Leeds, a firm favourite in this market.

“There may only be enough seed for just 2-3% of the market, so it is definitely one to get your hands on early,” said Mr Bouch. “Its bushel weight is the only concern with LG Sundance, but at 74.5kg/hl, nine times out of 10 it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Four new hard Group 4 types have made the new Recommended List, with the two highest yielding varieties offering field and the top two have caught the eye of Mr Bouch, achieving 106% of controls in AHDB trials.

“Shabras, from Syngenta and KWS Kerrin – which has an East/West recommendation – are true barn fillers and there will only be enough seed for 5% and 8% of the market, respectively.

Other varieties of interest include RGT Universe (soft feed wheat) and RGT Gravity (hard feed wheat) which are both candidates with high potential and with only a small amount of seed available for sowing this back-end, added Mr Bouch.