Productivity and sustainability are the focus for Senova at this year’s Cereals Event, reflecting the drive to reduce artificial crop inputs and the need for resilient varieties.
Of the company’s three newly recommended feed winter barley varieties – all of which will be on display – two-row Kitty brings resistance to both strains of Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV). The only newcomer to offer that protection from the soil-borne virus, Kitty also has the highest specific weight on the list at 72.7kg/hl.
Along with short, very stiff straw and good disease resistance ratings, including a 7 for rhynchosporium, it also has the lowest brackling score.
Joining Kitty are Nos Olena and Organa, both two-row feed barleys. Organa is one of the first to bring BYDV tolerance to this category, while Nos Olena is one of the highest yielding winter barleys on the market with a UK yield of 106.
Leading winter oat variety Cromwell will have a prominent position and visitors can get an early glimpse of candidate winter oat Rannoch and candidate spring oat Nova. Rannoch offers slightly higher yields than existing choices and a very good crown rust resistance rating of 8, while Nova has a mildew resistance rating of 8.
Another newcomer on display will be winter bean, Ninja.
More interest in home-grown protein and the use of companion cropping and bi-crops has put renewed focus on pulses, says the company, so there will also be a plot of spring beans and oats, or ‘boats’, so that visitors can discuss their potential and management.
The company’s first spring bean variety for some time, Navara, is included, as is high yielding yellow pea Batist.
Finally, hard feed wheat candidate Hector will be on display. A later maturing and very high yielding variety, it has good disease resistance ratings for both septoria and yellow rust.
