A new AHDB-funded initiative will test whether growing a mixture of wheat varieties together can deliver better milling crops.
The four-year project will combine UK trials with the experience of farmers and millers to assess the potential of milling-wheat variety blends to deliver on yield, meet milling specifications, and contribute to more sustainable production practices.
The need for robust information on blends – growing multiple varieties as a single crop – was identified during the AHDB’s most recent review its Recommended Lists (RLs) for cereals and oilseeds.
According to the AHDB, in addition to potentially delivering stronger yield and quality in comparison to single-variety stands, cereal blends may produce other benefits, such as better yield stability and reduced disease severity.
All of this could help reduce fungicide spray intensity, contribute to fungicide-resistance-risk management, and prolong the durability of disease resistance genes.
Blending varieties
The AHDB variety blend tool for winter wheat and experience will be used to identify hard milling varieties to include in the project’s dedicated variety blend trials, which will also feature the same varieties in single stands for comparative purposes.
Georgia Hassell, who leads the variety blends initiative at AHDB, said: “Based on pedigree information and RL agronomic data, the AHDB variety blend tool for winter wheat can identify potential blends.
“However, as the tool data is based on varieties grown as straights, it does not account for complementarity of traits.
“In other words, it does not indicate whether a mix will be greater or less than the sum of its parts.
“These trials will specifically assess how varieties complement each other in mixes, including how they exploit resources in a relatively wide range of timings and spaces.”
The trials will be drilled each autumn (2025, 2026, and 2027) at two experimental sites: Harper Adams University in Shropshire, which generally has a high septoria tritici pressure; and Agrii Throws Farm in Essex, which generally has a high yellow rust pressure.
The trials will include the following treatments:
- No or low-fungicide treatment to test disease resistance of blends compared to their component varieties;
- A high fungicide intensity treatment, based on an RL standard fungicide programme, to suppress all diseases to test the additional benefits of blends;
- Various measurements will be taken, including disease levels, canopy assessments, growth stages, height, and yield.
The project will also assess grain quality data, via milling and baking tests, analyse mycotoxin concentrations and record the presence of ergot.
Led by experts at Harper Adams University and Cope Seeds (UK) Limited, the new work will examine the performance of variety blends, prime conversations among farmers and millers, and ultimately underpin the adoption of blends in the UK.
Intercropping in Ireland
In relation to Ireland, very little work has as yet been carried out on blending cereal varieties under Irish conditions. However, Teagasc is currently researching the potential of intercropping peas and faba beans.
Within this scenario, the beans provide a framework, which can delay the premature lodging of the peas.
Faba beans help support the pea canopy, resulting in taller, more upright pea plants.
Trials have confirmed that Intercropping delayed maturity slightly, giving farmers more flexibility at harvest without compromising yield.
