Could highest yielding soft wheat be the next market leader?

After the recent success of Bamford, which became the UK’s market-leading winter wheat for 2026, could another soft wheat from the same breeder repeat this feat?

Will Compson, managing director of independent seed wholesaler All Things Rural, says of the new winter wheat varieties that went onto the Recommended List (RL) last December, Group 4 soft wheat Sparkler from Elsoms was one that caught his attention.

With a treated yield of 106%, it’s currently the highest yielding soft wheat on the RL, which he says “was a step change”.

See also: Grower reveals top wheat and OSR contenders for autumn 2026

He says when assessing any variety, understanding its parentage is a good starting point and, with Sparkler, it is a combination of Skyscraper and Graham.

These two varieties achieved success and longevity in the north and west, respectively.

However, it is no longer just about yield. “Following the Yr15 resistance gene breakdown, growers are now rightly questioning the risk they’re taking when selecting a variety. With a 7.2 for septoria and a 7 for yellow rust,  Sparkler answers those risk-related questions.”

In terms of its market potential, Sparkler currently sits within the largest individual sector of the UK winter wheat area at around 45% of total area – a big plus.

“And with many of its competitors – particularly the hard Group 4s – offering very little market flexibility beyond feed homes, its approval for both distilling and UKS export give it a definite advantage.”

Significantly, he points out that it’s also the only Group 4 rated as “high” for distilling quality and, with several negatives surrounding spring malting barley, that’s likely to be a selling point in the north.

“Historically, we’ve seen outstanding varieties such as Claire, Consort, Barrel and, most recently, Bamford, achieve remarkable levels of success because they delivered what growers and the market wanted. I believe Sparkler has all the right credentials to become a first-choice Group 4,” he says.

© Gary Naylor

Scottish view

Based in Perth, Alan Johnson, regional seed manager for Scotland with Frontier Agriculture, says they are currently trialling Sparkler across two demonstration sites in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, and near Coldstream in the Scottish borders.

He sees Sparkler as a potential gamechanger for many Scottish growers – despite a highly competitive Group 4 market.

“I first saw Sparkler in Recommeded List trials in 2024 and recall it being a very high-tillering variety that looked noticeably cleaner than most of its competitors in both the treated and untreated plots.

“Fast forward two years, it has definitely achieved the right RL ratings to significantly reduce yield losses.”

Talking to Scottish growers, he expects many will move away from yellow rust-susceptible varieties next season following the Yr15 gene breakdown – and that bodes well for Sparkler’s prospects this autumn.

Although the trend in recent years has been towards hard Group 4 feed wheats, the arrival of more marketable, high-yielding soft wheats such as Bamford, and now Sparkler, could continue to reverse that trend.

The big catalyst for growing Sparkler is likely to be its high alcohol yields. If farmers can earn an additional distilling premium with the backup option of growing a Group 4 Soft with a treated yield of 108% in the north (only 1% below the highest yielding Group 4) then the decision to grow it looks straightforward.

Its septoria score, higher than all the current Group 4s bar Champion, could also be a significant factor. In terms of other agronomic positives, its mid-September drill timing coupled with a prostrate growth habit and medium speed of development is a good fit for the growing conditions within most Scottish regions.

The +1 maturity rating also appeals to growers in both the central and northern belts.

On parentage, Alan believes the strong genetic link with Skyscraper, an incredibly popular and successful variety in Scotland, is a huge plus. What’s more, Sparkler’s high tillering ability – not just for weed suppression, but for its excellent straw production – could also be critical to its future success.