Elsoms Varieties Shine on the AHDB Recommended List for 2026
The AHDB Recommended List for 2026 has been released, and we’re proud to celebrate another successful year for Elsoms. Our breeding teams, trial partners, and merchants have worked tirelessly to bring new, improved varieties to UK growers—and this year’s list reflects that effort.
From the UK’s highest-yielding soft wheat to exciting new options in barley, oats, rye, linseed, and oilseed rape, here’s what’s new for 2026.
Sparkler – The UK’s Highest-Yielding Soft Wheat
Sparkler is the standout new addition to the AHDB Recommended List. Delivering exceptional performance across the UK, Sparkler offers growers a versatile option for feed, distilling, and soft export markets.
Why Sparkler Stands Out:
Top of the AHDB RL for soft wheat yield: 106%
Excellent Septoria and Yellow Rust resistance
Graham × LG Skyscraper cross – combining proven genetics
High tillering capacity for strong straw production
Consistent UK-wide performance and excellent distilling results
Sparkler represents years of dedicated breeding work and is set to become a major choice for growers looking for yield, resilience, and market flexibility.
Bamford – UK’s No.1 Wheat
Bamford is nows the UK’s leading wheat variety. Its exceptional performance and reliability have made it the first choice for winter wheat growers nationwide.
Key Highlights:
Maintains top market share
Outstanding yield consistency
Strong disease resistance profile
Proven success in its first commercial year, driving continued demand
We’re grateful to our merchants and growers for backing Bamford—it’s your support that has helped make it the UK’s No.1 wheat.
Jacky & Neptun – Newly Recommended Spring Oats
Two exciting new oat varieties join the Recommended List this year:
Jacky: Outyields all other varieties in the North of England and Scotland, with strong quality to match.
Neptun: The husked oat with the best Specific Weight (53.9kg/hl) and Kernel Content (74%), making it a must-have for millers and merchants.
Shona – Spring Malting Barley
Shona is newly recommended and already showing promise:
Highest-yielding potential dual-use variety in the East
Strong yields across the UK
Positive early malting test results, with macromalting tests underway
SU Erling – Rye
An exciting new addition to the Rye Descriptive List:
Dual-purpose variety
Improved freshweight, dry matter, and grain yields
Stiff straw and excellent grain quality
Balance – Spring Linseed
Balance joins the Spring Linseed Descriptive List:
Extremely high-yielding at 108% for the UK
High oil content and ALA levels
Candidate Varieties to Watch
Our pipeline continues to deliver strong candidates:
Winter Barley: Inferno – high-yield 2-row feed barley
Winter Wheat: Sunspire and Lucifer (Group 3), Dreadnought (Group 4 soft), Bluebird (Group 4 hard)
Oilseed Rape: Ocean and Nightingale – two exciting new conventional candidates with excellent yield and oil content
Here’s to Another Great Year
We’re proud to celebrate these new additions to the AHDB Recommended List and want to thank our merchants and growers for their continued support. It’s thanks to you that we can keep investing in our breeding teams to deliver newer, better varieties for UK growers. Your backing has been instrumental in making Bamford the UK’s No.1 wheat. Here’s to another year of great varieties!
