Developed by Fielder Nutrition, the product – named Surge – is among the first to merge biological inoculants with a targeted micronutrient package, aiming to give crops both a biological and nutritional edge from the earliest stages of development.

The formulation includes three UK-derived bacillus strains, which have been proven to significantly improve root growth, stimulate enhanced germination and support the plant’s ability to cope with stress conditions.

Further to this, the bacillus strains work to enhance the soil and reduce the need for other synthetic inputs as they solubilise P in the soul and fix nitrogen.

Complementing this microbial blend is a manganese-rich micronutrient mix, designed to further encourage root expansion and early nutrient uptake.

Fielder Nutrition director Robert Hawkin says Surge stands apart from traditional seed treatments:

“The interaction between the microbes and the micronutrients is unlike anything we’ve seen before – it enhances germination and seedling vigour, helping the plant access water and nutrients more effectively through a more developed root system.”

A closer look at Surge

The development of Surge began five years ago, with the product undergoing extensive field evaluations across the UK to ensure strong performance under British growing conditions.

One of the contributors to its design is Dr. Apostolos Papadopoulos, a specialist in Bacillus microbiology.

“Surge is built around a biological core – specifically, beneficial Bacillus bacteria – which are included to support the early stages of crop growth and long-term plant vitality,” says Dr Papadopoulos.

“These are naturally occurring, spore-forming microbes that colonise the root zone at germination, forming a mutually beneficial interaction with the plant.”

He explains that Surge works through multiple mechanisms:

• Encouraging early and vigorous root development, which helps seedlings access water and nutrients more effectively
• Increasing phosphorus availability in the soil through microbial solubilisation
• Enhancing the plant’s tolerance to stress, both environmental and disease-related, by improving root-soil dynamics and triggering internal defence responses.

“Although the results might not always be visible above ground straight away,” he adds, “the biological activity contributes to more even crop emergence and stronger early vigour – which can lead to more reliable yields, especially when growing conditions are less than ideal.”

According to Dr. Papadopoulos, Surge also differs from many of the microbial seed treatments currently on the market.

“What sets it apart is that its Bacillus strains have been selected and trialled specifically in the UK, rather than being adapted from overseas formulas.

This regional focus means it’s well matched to the crops, soils, and environmental conditions encountered by British farmers – giving it a clear performance edge.”

Bridging the gap

Over five growing seasons, independent UK field trials and farmer-led trials have recorded average yield increases of 5%, with even more pronounced benefits under challenging conditions like drought stress.

Recent collaborative trials with the University of Nottingham have also highlighted the product’s potential to support natural disease resistance.

In winter wheat, plants treated with Surge showed up to 50% less yellow rust and reduced fusarium infection within three weeks of sowing compared to untreated controls.

Researchers attributed this to the ability of Bacillus strains to activate plant defence signalling and trigger production of protective proteins.

Promoting sustainability is also a key part of Surge’s appeal. The microbial strains are known to aid phosphorus solubilisation and biological nitrogen activity, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

Importantly, the product is compatible with conventional fungicide and nutrition-based seed treatments, offering flexibility for integrated use.

Surge is available through your local seed house or agricultural merchant and growers interested in the technology are encouraged to speak with Fielder Nutrition’s team for more details:

• robert@fieldernutrition.com
• 01743 860924

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The organisers said: “By bringing together the UK’s largest showcase of agricultural machinery and technology with the leading arable sector event, this co-location creates an unparalleled one-stop shop where exhibitors gain access to a powerful, combined arable audience.”

Over recent years, LAMMA and CropTec have each grown as stand-alone events with distinct strengths and audiences.

LAMMA has long been recognised as one of the UK’s premier destinations for agricultural machinery, innovation, and business networking, attracting over 600 exhibitors and attendees representing more than 6.6 million hectares of UK farmland.

CropTec, meanwhile, has become a specialised hub for the arable sector, spotlighting critical industry issues from crop varieties and disease management to pioneering technology and regulatory updates.

Arable and machinery technology in one place

The co-location at LAMMA 2026 is set to combine these strengths, providing exhibitors a unique opportunity to engage with an expanded audience and offering visitors a streamlined experience where they can explore everything the arable sector has to offer, all in one place.

Event portfolio director Sarah Whittaker-Smith said: “This collaboration is about providing real value to our exhibitors and attendees by reducing the time pressures on our busy farmers.

“Farmers who may have previously only attended one event now have a compelling reason to attend both, giving them access to innovations, insights, and industry expertise across both machinery and arable technology.”

Key benefits of the LAMMA and CropTec co-location

• Access to a robust combined audience: Over 29% of LAMMA’s 34,580 attendees in 2024 were arable and grassland farmers, many of whom had not attended CropTec 2023. With 9,765 farmers in this category alone, exhibitors can look forward to engaging a fresh, substantial audience.

• Increased convenience and efficiency for visitors: Recognising that farmers are often time-poor, the co-location offers a consolidated, efficient experience where they can connect with both machinery experts and arable specialists in a single venue. This streamlines their ability to access critical insights and products essential for their farm’s success and sustainability.

• Future-focused innovation at every turn: By uniting LAMMA’s machinery focus with CropTec’s emphasis on arable technology and future-proofing, the combined event ensures that attendees are equipped with actionable strategies and state-of-the-art solutions to help them navigate the evolving landscape of agriculture.

The organisers said that LAMMA and CropTec will continue their individual missions, but this co-location represents a strategic move to help farmers access the tools and knowledge they need to thrive.

For the first time, attendees will find cutting-edge machinery alongside the latest advancements in AI, robotics, gene-editing, and controlled environment agriculture, all under one roof.

Visitors will also benefit from CropTec’s three keynote theatres, focusing on innovation, knowledge, and profit, providing practical guidance on driving profitability and sustainability on the farm.

READ MORE: GALLERY: LAMMA 2025 in photos

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With relatively firm prices for wheat and barley straw, baling could make financial sense for arable farmers with easy access to markets. There are some good agronomic reasons too, such as aiding direct drilling, reducing slug pressure, and reducing the immobilisation of nitrogen where white straw residues build up.

However, Hutchinsons’ fertiliser and crop nutrition specialist, Rob Jewers, explained that such benefits must be weighed against other factors, including the compaction risk from increased traffic, any impact the timeliness of straw removal will have on establishing following crops, and the impact of lost organic matter on soil health and structure.

Another important consideration is the value of key nutrients removed within the straw, principally phosphate and potash.

Figures from the AHDB Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) estimate a 10 t/ha wheat crop removes around 5 kg/ha of phosphate and 50 kg/ha of potash in straw (compared with 65 kg/ha of phosphate and 55 kg/ha potash in grain), while for an 8 t/ha winter barley crop, removal in straw is slightly less at 4 kg/ha and 40 kg/ha respectively (64 kg/ha and 44 kg/ha in grain).

Mr Jewers said: “The potash content of straw can vary substantially depending on the amount of water availability during crop maturity and straw baling. It can, therefore, be worthwhile to determine the nutrient content of representative straw samples by laboratory analysis.”

Replace lost nutrients

If growers do decide to bale, Mr Jewers advises that some of the money made from straw sales should be reinvested back into replacing the nutrition removed.

“Phosphate fertiliser is usually best applied to seedbeds ahead of, or at planting,” he said. This is often as organic manure applications or broadcast in traditional fertilisers, such as DAP and TSP.

But microgranular or liquid placement fertilisers are increasingly popular and can deliver significant benefits to rooting and early crop vigour.

The expert continued: “Placement fertilisers are applied in much smaller, concentrated quantities than traditional fertilisers and are therefore highly efficient and cost-effective.”

Indeed, trials at Helix East Anglia in 2022 showed yield responses of 0.8 t/ha and 0.6 t/ha from using the placement fertilisers Crystal Green and Primary-P over an untreated control.

For potassium, Mr Jewers said that although crops do require large amounts through the season for optimum growth – potentially more than 300 kg/ha in a high-yielding crop – uptake usually peaks during late flowering, before much of the potassium is returned to the soil as crops senesce.

“In order to maintain an adequate supply of K through the peak uptake period, the soil needs to be able to store and release exchangeable K into the soil solution. A good measure of the soil’s ability to do this is its cation exchange capacity (CEC).”

Clay and organic matter content have a significant impact on soil CEC, he added. “A soil with over 5% organic matter, or equally, over 5% clay content, will lose little K to leaching, whereas a sandy soil with low CEC will allow K to move down the soil profile with excess rainfall.

“Soils with low indices and low CEC should have K applied annually. This should be applied in the spring before peak uptake by the plant,” the expert concluded.

To fully understand the P & K requirements of your soils, Mr Jewers recommends having in-depth soil analysis carried out, such as the Gold Healthy Soils test or Terramap high-definition scanning – see more here.

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Mr Aveling grows oats, wheat and barley on 80 hectares of farmland in Towcester. He recently started harvesting RGT Southwark winter oats at 14% moisture level, having drilled the crop in October. 

According to Mr Aveling, there are no issues regarding grain quality, except the thin shape. 

At the time of writing he had harvested 15ha of oats, with 65ha of spring oats, spring barley and winter wheat still to cut. 

The Northamptonshire farmer said: “Harvest definitely started earlier this year; a couple of weeks at least would be my approximation. 

“Unfortunately, the yields are below average. It’s been about 5t/ha, which would be approximately 50% down on yield.  

“We also noticed that heavier land crops have fared a lot better than the lighter land crops.” 

Mr Aveling has recently appeared on the Farmers Guide Podcast to talk about the highs and lows of his diversifications over the past 20 years.

READ MORE: Harvest update: ‘It’s the earliest harvest we’ve ever had’

READ MORE: First harvest report of 2025 released earlier due to long dry spell

READ MORE: Farmers provide update on harvest 2025

READ MORE: Harvest update: Farmers kick off early harvest 2025

Read more arable news.

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The first harvest report of the 2025/26 season, covering the beginning of the harvest up to 9th July 2025, has just been released.

Produced with data collected by The Andersons Centre and compiled by AHDB, the report is based on a sample survey of farmers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and will provide figures on harvest progress throughout the harvest season.

The heavy rainfall that occurred during the weekend of 5th and 6th July caused a slight pause in combining, but since then, the harvest pace has picked up. Winter barley harvest is progressing rapidly, owing to the dry weather either side of 5th and 6th July, the report has revealed.

However, progress is highly variable both within and between regions. Of those surveyed across the UK, 10 percent of winter barley crops are reported to have been harvested.

While some oilseed rape has now been cut, no progress was reported by participants in this survey. Reports of yields in the earliest cut oilseed rape have been encouraging, though variable.

The progress

Due to the hot temperatures forecast for the coming days, growers have been warned to be mindful of temperature claims when going into stores so they do not incur cooling charges or even face a load being rejected because its temperature is greater than 25 degrees.

Overall, it is estimated that 10 percent of the UK winter barley area was harvested by 9th July 2025.

AHDB said that this is ahead of the same time last year when harvest was 7 percent complete, and the five-year average of 6 percent complete at this point in the season.

Harvest is expected to continue progressing well in the coming fortnight, with winter barley harvesting already complete for some farms. There will now be a gap for many before winter wheat harvest starts, while some will move straight into harvesting oilseed rape.

READ MORE: Harvest update: ‘It’s the earliest harvest we’ve ever had’

‘Positive’ yields

Olivia Bonser, AHDB cereals & oilseeds senior analyst, said: “Given that we are at an early stage in the season, and that weather has been variable in the approach to harvest, there will inevitably be variation in farms across the country.

“As can be expected, some regions have only seen minimal progress at this point. As such, early yield data may well be skewed and should not be considered representative of the whole country. Information on quality is also limited at this point.”

Ms Bonser explained that so far, progress has only been recorded in the Eastern and South Eastern regions in this survey. However, harvest has begun in other regions too.

In the Eastern region, 38 percent of winter barley is reported to have been harvested. This ranges from some farms that are yet to start to others who have now finished. In the South East, 19 percent of the crop has been harvested.

For farms further north and west, harvest is expected to start early next week.

Straw volumes are proving a challenge so far this season, with some noticeably short crops due to the prolonged warm and dry weather.

Yields of winter barley have been reported as ‘positive’, despite the dry weather seen during the latter stage of crop development. Reported UK yields averaged 6.9 t/ha, up 2 percent on the five-year average. Reported yields range from 6.8 to 7.0 t/ha. However, it can be expected that these figures will change as more data is collected.

Regarding quality, there is currently limited quality data available, AHDB said. More information will be published in the next harvest report, however, initial specific weights in the Eastern region are good and are as high as 70 kg/hl in some areas.

No issues with nitrogen levels have been reported. Moisture levels of crops harvested to date have averaged 13.6 per cent.

This is the first report of 2025. The second report of 2025 is scheduled for release at the end of July.

READ MORE: Farmers provide update on harvest 2025

READ MORE: Harvest update: Farmers kick off early harvest 2025

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Matthew Carter, farm manager at Rougham Estate Farms in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has recently started harvesting winter barley.

31ha of KWS Tardis winter barley has already been harvested, with 100ha still remaining. The barley was drilled in early to mid-October and harvested at 12.5-14% moisture.

The rotation varies by land type and includes winter wheat, winter barley, spring malting barley, milling rye, oilseed rape, sugar beet and potatoes.

Mr Carter said: “We didn’t experience any issues regarding the grain quality; the bushel weight is 70kg/hL. This harvest started about five days earlier than average. It’s a little early to say for sure how the yields are looking, but they are respectable given the lack of rain. The area we have done so far has been around 7.8t/ha.”

Asked how he would sum up the 2024/2025 season, Mr Carter added: “Pre-ems did a fantastic job, which has meant weed control has been fairly straightforward, establishment was pleasing on the whole considering the wet autumn, and crops have ripened very quickly with the 30+ degrees we have had.

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A post shared by Rougham Estate with Blackthorpe Barn (@roughamestate)

The earliest harvest

Farmer and YouTuber Olly Harrison, who farms around 500ha in Merseyside, started harvesting winter barley at the end of June.

The rotation is winter barley, oilseed rape, winter wheat and spring beans.

Mr Harrison said that harvest 2025 started a week to 10 days earlier than normal.

He added: “It’s actually the earliest we’ve ever started. We’ve had a third of our average rainfall in the first six months of this year, but 46% of that actually fell in January. So, since February, it’s just been so dry; things have just died off, and this field that we started on was on the edge of the river; it was sandy land, so it just burnt off and died.

“We didn’t have a lot of winter barley because of the poor weather in the autumn, so we’ve done about 20ha and we’ve got about another 20ha to go.”

The farm will start on oilseed rape next and wheat in 10-14 days.

“We have actually had it quite wet for the last four weeks. We’ve had warm wet weather for the last three or four weeks, so stuff actually is starting to grow again.”

Asked about the winter barley yields, Mr Harrison said: “Well, what we’ve cut so far is probably down a third. The one that we cut the earliest was down by more than half.”

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A post shared by Olly Harrison (@agricontract_ollyblogs)

READ MORE: Farmers provide update on harvest 2025

READ MORE: Harvest update: Farmers kick off early harvest 2025

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James Peck of P.X. Farms has provided Farmers Guide with an update on the Belfry winter barley harvest on a farm in Cambridgeshire from the end of last week.

He said: “We got mixed results on the barley so far. We started off quite strong on the heavier land, and as we went onto more lighter land, the yields started to deteriorate. We did 8.76t/h on the first bit of land. It’s lower than our average but perhaps better than expected.”

Mr Peck then moved onto a barley field in Lincolnshire. He said that the yields vary from 8.76 to 9.3t/h on the heavy land and from 3.5 to 6t/h on the lightest land.

Day and night the boys and girls are harvesting. pic.twitter.com/slm1Rq3C8b

— James S. Peck (@Pxfarms) July 4, 2025

He added: “We’ve noticed a dramatic difference depending on the land type. What is also tremendous is that the land which was long term controlled traffic farming has yielded better than new fields to CTF.”

While comparing the winter barley yields from fields located in different areas, Mr Peck said: “Lincolnshire has the lowest yields, Cambridgeshire has one of the highest yields and Bedfordshire, so far, looks the same as Cambridgeshire, if not slightly better.”

When asked how he would sum up the harvest so far, Mr Peck said: “It’s a year to forget. The only saving grace at the moment is that currently there is no drying cost.

“We are managing to combine without drying, so that is a positive.” Mr Peck concluded by saying that the drought effects on harvest 2025 are “extraordinary”.

Duck feet on the header trail by Ian Clayton-Bailey BTT UK pic.twitter.com/VqxrLgnLJZ

— James S. Peck (@Pxfarms) July 4, 2025

Harvest in Hertfordshire

Eveey Hunter of J S Hunter & Sons in Hertfordshire said that 65ha of Hear oilseed rape grown on contract for Cefetra has so far been harvested. The crop was drilled on 24th July 2024. Moisture levels vary between 8-8.7%

Ms Hunter said: “We’ve harvested 3t/ha on average. I would say it’s slightly lower than usual but not by much – maybe by 0.25t/ha.

“We haven’t had any problems with crop establishment this year – what’s scary is how quick the wheat and the beans are going to be ready.”

Will we be on holiday by the 15th August this year? pic.twitter.com/69xvPRBRUD

— Eveey Hunter (@farmerevees) July 8, 2025

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Harry Fountaine of Folkingham Farms in Lincolnshire grows wheat, winter barley, spring barley, spring oats, winter beans and vining peas.  

He is now harvesting Belfry hybrid winter barley for feed.  

Mr Fountaine said: “We have grown 180ha this year, which is less than usual. We started harvesting on Sunday, which is 10 to 14 days before normal.  

“Barley is averaging 9.2t/ha, which is slightly above average with a bushel weight of 70. 

“The crop was drilled on 2nd October 2024. 2025 is a very low disease pressure year, and generally pre-em herbicides have worked very well.” 

First ever June start to harvest at Folkingham. pic.twitter.com/zRxLLPaveW

— George Atkinson (@Georgethefarmer) June 29, 2025

Father and son from Suffolk, Chris and Harry Suckling, have been harvesting Flagon winter barley this week. The yield was a respectable 7.5t/ha. 

The farmers from Woodlands Farm at Holbrook will now be moving straight on to their potato harvest. 

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AHDB confirmed that its first harvest report of this year will be published on Friday, 11th July. It is going to be the earliest first report on harvest progress for more than 15 years. 

#harvest25 has begun…in June!

A lovely block of LG Caravelle, winter barley coming in with an impressive yield for Suffolk Farmer, Ryan McCormack! pic.twitter.com/SrUKMdyuKO

— LGSeedsUK (@LGSeedsUK) July 1, 2025

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One factor driving down prices was an increase in wheat imports to 2.900Mt, according to AHDB, far higher than the five-year average of 1.856Mt. 

While the proportion of new crop sales in the first quarter of this year was at a similar level to 2024, the second quarter has seen a marked  decline in pre-harvest trading, falling from 42% of tonnes offered by farmers last year to just 20% this year. 

Prices may currently be below many farmers’ costs of production, however, AHDB figures indicate that end-season wheat stocks will hit 2.937 Mt, well above the five-year average of 2.116 Mt.  

Hectare Trading said that carrying the 2024 crop over to the new season without a locked-in price could be a high-risk strategy given market conditions. 

READ MORE: AHDB’s latest planting and variety survey: ‘Growers had to fight the weather again’

Feed wheat prices at their lowest level 

Spot feed wheat prices on Hectare Trading are now at their lowest levels in a year. 

In the Midlands, the lowest price of the past year, £164/t, was reached in May 2025. This compares to a 12-month high of £194/t and an average price of £180/t. 

The premium for milling wheat has also steadily narrowed and currently stands at just £19/t. 

High beef prices drive demand for feed barley 

While 2024 was not exactly the best harvest year for barley, recent months have seen an increase in buyer demand for feed barley and wheat, with demand outstripping supply on Hectare Trading as deadweight beef prices briefly broke the 700p/kg barrier in May 2025. 

There was exceptional demand for feed barley on Hectare Trading, exceeding supply by 183%. Feed wheat demand was more than triple supply, despite high end-season wheat stocks. 

Although the highest demand was for niche crops, demand for linseed outstripped supply by 338%.

Ex-farm spot prices rise against futures

Futures prices have drifted downwards over the quarter, with the UK (ICE) Feed Wheat July 25 contract falling to £159.05/t on 9th June 2025. 

However, cash prices have generally held up better than futures. In the Midlands, the ex-farm basis (the difference between the regional ex-farm price and the futures price) has swung markedly over the past year, from -£3 on 9th July 2024 to +£9 on 9th June 2025. 

READ MORE: Disease driving wheat variety decisions

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From sprayers and drills to grain handling, soil monitoring, and GPS correction services, the emphasis was firmly on smart, user-friendly technology. Several manufacturers used the show to launch new or updated kit tailored for compliance with government grant schemes, while others focused on showcasing established workhorses that continue to earn their place in sheds up and down the country.

A handful of big names were holding back major releases ahead of Agritechnica, but the overall mood remained upbeat.

Beyond the big names, many of this year’s most engaging conversations centred on small-scale innovation – tweaks and refinements to established tools that save time, reduce input costs, or improve compatibility with regenerative practices. From retrofit kits for air seeders to tungsten-tipped parts, exhibitors were keen to show how even modest investments can have meaningful on-farm impact.

Several smaller manufacturers noted increased interest from contractors and mixed farms looking to simplify operations while remaining SFI-compliant.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing

The question of collaboration and knowledge sharing was also a recurrent theme across all parts of the event.

Whether farmer-to-farmer, farmer-to-merchant or farmer-to-general public, the message was clear: farming has to fight its own corner and tell its own story. The launch of the 2025 Your Harvest campaign at the start of day one of Cereals was a timely reminder of this.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw joined a panel of speakers early on in the day, fielding questions about the future of farming in the UK. The main message to emerge from the debate was the need for all players in the food production sector to come together and remove the obstacles to growth and development.

In his opening comments during the panel session, Mr Bradshaw told the audience: “We need to accept that the old support schemes have finished. We are going to see huge variations [of support] across the home countries, with England getting the least support. Fundamentally we need to stop talking about support and start thinking about the way that we become a sustainable industry.

“At the same time, if the threats from other parts of the world are real, then food security is essential. It is a critical part of national security, and the government needs to realise that.”

Addressing what that means for growers, fellow panelist and Norfolk farmer Mark Means added: “We need traction; that means mills and other means of food production in this country. And we don’t need the middlemen to take most of the margin. We, at the bottom of the food chain, need help to keep mills and processing plants running. And we need proper [financial] margins to make sure that we can keep pushing forward.”

Diana Overton, managing director of Frontier Agriculture, put the onus on the farmers: “Farmers need to look at what the end customer is looking for. And then we need to look at how the production companies can meet those targets.

“The food security issue is a long-term one. We are waiting for the 25-year road map. We need to show that we can be both sustainable and innovative.”

Asked how the NFU would move forward politically, Mr Bradshaw said: “We need to identify how do we unlock opportunities for productivity? We need to get government to recognise that we need food security, and we don’t need loads of cash, we just need to be enabled. If we can unlock the planning system then we can let the entrepreneurial spirit take hold.”

‘Manage change before it manages you’

Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV, warned that public finances were tightening and that DEFRA may not be able to deliver on its environmental pledges.

He added: “DEFRA is realising it can’t afford all the environmental goals it accepted as its inheritance. The public finances appear to be in a worse position than last summer. And we know less about environmental management schemes now than we did two years ago.”

Mr Moody noted that ministerial language is making it clear that farmers must treat their operations as businesses, not rely on future support. Changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) point to a shift toward supporting smaller farms, national parks, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Looking ahead, he predicted that less profitable farmers may choose to let land out, creating opportunities for others to scale up and produce food more profitably. “We will have thriving businesses in the 2030s and 2040s, which are so often created in times of adversity, like now,” he said. “The most important thing will be for farmers to manage change before it manages them.”

READ MORE: Gallery: See photos from first day of Cereals Event 2025

Celebrating excellence

The event was not short of standout moments, with prestigious awards recognising talent and performance in the sector.

After four years as a finalist, Yorkshire farmer Mark Turner finally took home the top title after winning the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year (FSOOTY). Sponsored by Syngenta, the long-running competition celebrates precision, safety and best practice in sprayer operation.

Mr Turner operates a Bateman RB35 with a 30m boom and Ag Leader terminal and joined two other UK finalists on stage for the live results.

He said: “I’m still in shock. I didn’t think I’d win after all these years of trying, and I don’t know why I put myself through it. This year the competition was tough, but it means so much to me that I’ve won.”

Meanwhile, day two highlighted genetics, with the Niab Variety Cup 2025 awarded to the oat variety, Mascani, recognised for its 21 years of success, consistency, and market dominance. First listed by AHDB in 2004 and bred at Aberystwyth, Mascani has long been favoured by the milling industry, now accounting for over 50% of the UK’s winter oat area.

“For a winter oat to win the Variety Cup is a very special moment,” said Senova’s Alison Barrow. “It’s down to the quality and consistency of this variety that it has succeeded.”

IBERS’ Dr Catherine Howarth added: “A new variety is a whole team effort, and Mascani has been a game changer. It is an exceptional quality variety, giving consistently positive results each year. The millers, merchants and farmers all like it.”

Reflecting on the event’s success, event director Alli McEntyre said the show had exceeded expectations. “From packed seminar tents to hands-on field demos and vital conversations about policy, climate, and innovation, the appetite for change and progress was clear. Cereals continues to be where the industry comes together to face the future, head-on.

“We’re already planning for 2026 – building on this year’s success to create an even more impactful event that truly reflects the evolving needs of arable farmers and the wider supply chain,” she concluded.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm will host Cereals 2026 

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