Variety Choices 2025/2026
Wheat
This has been an extraordinary season with notable volatility in milling and biscuit premiums. The small UK wheat crop of just 11 million tonnes led to UK wheat prices trading up to the cost of imported supplies that were needed to plug the gap in a shortfall to meet our domestic demand. As a result, we have seen spells when record high premiums have been achievable for Group 1 and soft wheats, given their deficit in supply. Following a successful planting campaign for 2025/26 and the increased winter wheat plantings, we may see a different pricing dynamic but looking ahead to planting this autumn, it is important to continue to send to Camgrain the varieties where the team can best add value.
We acknowledge that the outlook for arable margins in 2026 is very tight, but we encourage those farmers who feel comfortable in making the investment to grow full spec Group 1 wheats to continue to do so to achieve maximum value for their crop.
Ultimately, Camgrain will look to blend, segregate and capture the best premium opportunities in the quality wheat markets.
Group 1
Group 1 breadmaking wheats provide Camgrain with the best value-added opportunities with their blending and stock management to provide the customer with the consistent quality they need. Premiums over the past two seasons of up to £70 per tonne highlight the value when 13% can be achieved. Members have highlighted the challenges they faced growing Crusoe, Skyfall, Illustrious and Zyatt but there is now Cheer which has been fully approved as a Group 1. KWS Vibe also looks very promising with the best combination of yield and protein. It is short and stiff strawed and early to mature. We continue to primarily recommend Group 1 varieties and suggest you continue to invest in nitrogen application to maximise protein potential and the premiums we achieve for you.
Group 2
Extase and Palladium are Group 2 varieties with mixed market interest on a full spec basis. Camgrain will segregate where protein is evident but experience to date for Extase suggest 13% protein, or close to it, is difficult to achieve and the vast majority received falls into the low-grade milling bin or even feed. Therefore, unless specifically investing in nitrogen, as you might with a Group 1 premium, scope is more limited. We would, therefore, recommend that you consider growing these varieties for yield rather than protein.
KWS Arnie is new with exceptional yield potential and looks well suited to the low protein hard wheat market.
Group 3 and Group 4 Soft
This segment of the market has seen a significant drop in planting in recent years with poor premiums and poor performing varieties. The lack of availability sent premiums sharply higher this season but that is unlikely to be the case in the future. The new varieties, particularly Bamford , have impressive quality and yield characteristics, and their resulting popularity will erode premium potential. KWS Solitaire is the highest yielding Group 3 and is OWBM resistant. Camgrain will take any Group 4 soft but recommend and prefer Group 3 soft.
Group 4 Hard
Gleam and Dawsum are the primary varieties of interest for the cleaned wheat plant. Beowulf is next on our list to trial but other than this, any Group 4 hard variety can be assessed on its merits and may achieve a premium where qualities are suitable.
Spring Malting Barley
Laureate remains the preferred variety followed by Planet. In recent years we have seen occasions where there has been an additional premium for high quality low nitrogen Laureate delivered into store.
Other Varieties
We would caution growing other varieties for malting purposes: Skyway saw limited demand in crop ’23 and crop ’24 but this has now disappeared, and so the variety should now be considered as feed only.
Winter Malting Barley
Craft continues to be the first-choice winter malting variety. We anticipate a limited amount of demand for Buccaneer however, due to this limited demand, it is likely the variety will trade at a discount to Craft.
Oat
Preferred winter varieties are Mascani and Cromwell. In trials, Cromwell is slightly earlier to mature than Mascani.
Isabel is the preferred spring variety than Merlin; higher yield, but hulling losses a little higher than Isabel. Caledon, the next new spring variety, shows promise with the highest yield of the three and hulling losses similar to Isabel.
Green Peas
The higher prices are gained for good sized, whole green peas suitable for micronizing or human consumption.
We therefore recommend Kactus for its reliable performance with good seed size and standing ability, or Carrington as a high yielding variety with good standing and an excellent downy mildew score.
Field Beans
Both winter and spring beans can attain premiums for human consumption export. Winters predominantly for splitting and springs whole into the Middle East. Criteria are plump well filled, paled skinned beans with low insect damage.
For winter beans we recommend Vespa as it performs well in the field, combining high yield with good disease ratings. With spring beans we recommend Lynx, most widely grown, being consistent with growers.
Linseed
Winter and spring brown linseed varieties are accepted for all markets. Golden variety contracts are also available but require extra considerations. For winter linseed we recommend Apalache. With spring linseed we recommend Bingo and Bliss.
Winter Rye
All grain rye varieties accepted, ideally growers should be aiming for a minimum 8.5% protein which might influence the variety choice.
Organics
Contact Tom Wood (Robin Appel) directly for all Organic variety choices.
