What to grow next year is the subject of this column supplied by Derek Knight (01430) 861988 and Julie Cartner (01904) 491478 who are consultants for ADAS in East and North Yorkshire. This week they review barley and rape varieties, next week they look at winter wheat.

Winter barley

PERHAPS the first thing to consider is should we be growing barley at all? Make sure you can at least make the same margin as a second wheat, which is most people's alternative.

Before buying new seed, consider saving your own. The difference in performance between the top varieties is only slight, so don't swap for nothing. Buy a few bags of your new fancy and grow it on for the following year just like dad used to do! Do not be tempted to sow untreated seed.

Barley falls into three distinct groups. The figures in brackets refer to the average treated and untreated yield of the variety in trial; the breeder is also listed.

Six Row Varieties

(Only grow these if you are going to use the grain at home, it is difficult to market as it is of low specific weight.)

SIBERIA (111,87) Secobra Dalgety: High yield, very stiff straw which is resistant to BYMV BMMV viruses. It is susceptible to yellow rust and net blotch. There is doubt over this variety's winter hardiness.

ANGELA (108, 90)INRA France: Six row feed variety with good resistance to rhynchosporium and virus resistance, grain of low specific weight.

MUSCAT (106, 81) Twyfords: High yielding but moderate specific weight Best of six row varieties. Resistant to rhyncho & virus infection but susceptible to yellow rust. Very small grain.

Malting Varieties

FANFARE (100, 80) Advanta: A variety with very weak straw. Resistant to rhynchosporium but susceptible to mildew. Produces grain of a very high specific weight. After a dubious start is now a quality favourite with some maltsters

REGINA (103, 79) Breun Germany: The most popular variety grown in the country, giving both high yield and quality. It has very stiff straw and is the last variety to lodge. It has good rhynchosporium resistance but is susceptible to mildew and yellow rust.

GLEAM (99, 76) New Farm Crop: A malting variety popular with those who require virus resistance. It is very susceptible to net blotch and needs very careful management.

PEARL (103, 83) Nickersons: Good malting potential which is now being reflected in available contracts. It has no major weaknesses, with moderate standing shortness of straw and good all round disease resistance.

HALCYON (91, 68) PBI: Disease prone to everything except net blotch. Weak strawed and late ton harvest, this old favourite has had its day and could only be considered now if very large premiums were available.

Feed Varieties

INTRO (100, 78) Twyfords Dutch: A livestock farmer's dream, bold grain and plenty of straw but like the best-looking cows, results have been variable and is now outclassed. Resistant rhyncho but susceptible to mildew.

VERTIGE (102, 81)Serasern France: Short stiff-strawed variety with good resistance to net blotch but susceptible to rhyncho.

FLUTE (99, 86) PBI: Very good all-round disease resistance but yields 5pc lower than the best. Is there a place for this variety if we could save a spray?

ANTONIA (104, 87) Advanta: Resistant to rhyncho, net blotch and virus; a feed only with no major disease weaknesses.

JEWEL (102, 81) Nickersons: Stiff- strawed, with good standing; virus resistant with no disease weaknesses.

HELIGAN (101, 81) Tywfords: Stiff-strawed, good resistance to net blotch but very susceptible to mildew; produces very large grain.

Candidate Varieties

JACKPOT (110) Carsten German: Good disease and virus resistance, tall straw, moderate standing, six row.

AVENUE (105) Advanta: Feed variety with good resistance to all diseases; produces grain of low specific weight. Tall, moderate standing.

SUMO (107) New Farm Crops: Susceptible to yellow rust and rhyncho, with good standing but late maturing.

OPAL (104) Nickersons: Good resistance to mildew and rhyncho, susceptible to rusts and net blotch. Good malting potential, moderate specific weight, good standing and short.

HAKA (105): Very good disease resistance, producing grain of high specific weight. Good standing short straw, early maturing.

LEONIE (104) Advanta: A good standing short-strawed, early maturing variety with good malt potential. Very good net blotch, rhyncho and mildew resistance but poor rust susceptibility.

Derek' s Decisions

Do not grow six rows except for home milling.

Regina and Pearl for malting with good yield and ease of management.

Jewel and Antonia if you really must grow feed.

None of the candidate varieties offer much over existing varieties.

(Hybrid varieties)

Oilseed rape

Pronto(104): Very high treated and untreated yields. Moderately tall plants with good lodging resistance. Moderate resistance to light leaf spot and downy mildew Susceptible to stem canker.

Synergy (102): High treated yields. Tall plants with very good resistance to lodging. Resistant to light leaf spot and downy mildew but susceptible to stem canker

Gemini (106): Very high treated and untreated yields. Tall plants with good resistance to lodging. Good resistance to light leaf spot and downy mildew and moderate resistance to stem canker.

Cohort (105): Very high treated and untreated yields. Moderately tall plants with good resistance to lodging. Good resistance to light leaf spot and moderately resistant to downy mildew and stem canker.

Comedor (104): Very high treated yields. Moderately tall with moderate resistance to lodging. Good resistance to downy mildew and moderate resistance to light leaf spot and stem canker.

(Conventional varieties)

Madrigal (107): High treated and untreated yields. Moderately tall plants which are weak-stemmed at maturity. Good resistance to downy mildew and moderate resistance to light leaf spot and stem canker.

Lipton (98): Moderate yields, moderately tall plants with good resistance to lodging. Good resistance to downy mildew and moderate resistance to light leaf spot. Susceptible to stem canker.

Contact (97): Moderate treated yields and below average untreated yields. Moderately short plants with good resistance to lodging. Moderately good resistance to stem canker and moderate resistance to light leaf spot and downy mildew.

Apex (97): Moderate treated yields. Moderately short plants with good resistance to lodging and to downy mildew but susceptible to light leaf spot and stem canker.

Herald (95): Moderate treated yields. Moderately short plants with moderate resistance to lodging. Moderate resistance to light leaf spot and downy mildew but susceptible to stem canker.

Escort (102): High treated but moderate untreated yields. Moderately short plants which are weak-stemmed at maturity. Good resistance to downy mildew and moderately good resistance to stem canker. Moderately resistant to light leaf spot.

Fortress (101): High treated and untreated yields. Moderately short plants with good resistance to lodging. Good resistance to downy mildew and moderate resistance to stem canker and light leaf spot.

Julie's Judgement

A moderate bunch with no outstanding variety.

Cost of seed will be an important factor this year where there is not a great deal of difference between varieties.

Pronto is still a good choice but of the newer varieties Gemini has the more consistent yields and better disease ratings and may be worth a try.