Winter barley yields were sharply higher in early HGCA trials this summer with the six-row hybrid Volume being the top-yielding variety.

Five HGCA trials across England had been harvested by Monday (July 21) and showed average yields of 10.78t/ha compared with a five-year average yield of 9.04t/ha.

The sites harvested include Teesside in the North down to Hampshire in the South, and Suffolk in the East over to Hereford in the West.

See also: Winter barley bounces back into favour

“It is early days to make any conclusions on the season, since early trials may not always reflect the majority, but the signs are looking good with an average yield of 10.78t/ha,” said Simon Oxley of the HGCA.

Volume topped the table with a yield of 106% of control varieties. The six-row conventional variety Meridian was not far behind with a yield of 104%.

Tower led the two-row feed varieties on the HGCA Recommended list at 102%, a yield that is equalled by the candidate feed variety Daxor.

The Recommended List varieties Glacier, California had a yield of 101% which is equalled by the candidate two-row feed variety Infinity.

Malting barley yields are all similar with Flagon, Cassata, Venture and Talisman all achieving a yield of 97%.