The agronomic characteristics of promising new varieties of winter and spring barley, spring oats and winter wheat, selected on the basis of results of National List trials, are assessed in further trials at the Plant Testing Station, AFBI Crossnacreevy, and at a number of additional sites (for example, 3 for spring barley) in the main arable areas of Northern Ireland. Substantial support for these trials, which form part of a co-ordinated UK series, is provided by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority(HGCA). www.hgca.com

New varieties with higher yields and/or earlier maturity and higher resistance to lodging and various diseases may then be recommended for use in Northern Ireland. All the varieties on the Recommended List are sown each year in all trials as controls.

Forage maize is not a traditional crop for Northern Ireland, as Spring and summer temperatures and overall light intensity or sunshine hours are relatively low, plus high rainfall, wind exposure and dangers of early or late frosts in some areas, all make the climate less than ideal. Consequently, it has been difficult until recently, for local farmers to consistently produce high quality forage maize silage. While the unquestioned value of maize silage attracts growers’ interest, its advantages in terms of cost per tonne of dry matter intake will only be achieved if the crop can be matured out at 26 - 30% DM and with a starch content of 25% or higher.

Due to recent developments in plant breeding and in agronomic practice, it is now realistic for farmers to expect a fully matured crop at a target yield of as much as 18 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. Choosing the correct variety is vital as the marginal weather conditions can severely depress the performance of unsuitable varieties, despite them having achieved high results in milder regions elsewhere. So expansion of this crop into Northern Ireland is very dependant on the development of early maturing varieties with improved tolerances and high yield potentials.

Many farmers utilize the important development of degradable full-cover plastic-mulch to greatly improve the consistency of forage maize production, optimise yields or grow the crop in more marginal regions. However, as substantial numbers of farmers still grow forage maize in open establishment, different varieties for these two very different growing systems are required.

It is expected that the performance of forage maize will progressively increase as breeders develop varieties that are better-adapted to Northern Irish weather patterns. Therefore, as these new varieties are released from plant breeders, the work of the Department of Agriculture in evaluating their performances in ‘Open’ and ‘Plastic’ systems, is of great importance to the expansion of this crop among local farmers.

Trials on perennial, Italian and hybrid ryegrass and Timothy, together with white clover, are conducted under similar management to the National List trials. In addition to the use of trials managed under a cutting regime, shown above, an important feature of Recommended List testing of grasses and clovers in Northern Ireland Recommended List trials is a period of assessment under grazing by cattle before plot yields are assessed.

The most promising varieties are selected on the results of National List trials and are tested for one or two further years under local conditions. If found suitable, they are added to the Northern Ireland Recommended Lists. It is policy to re-test the complete list of varieties at least every two years to check the performance of existing recommendations against each other and against new candidate varieties.

Trials on maincrop and second early varieties of potatoes are conducted at two centres, AFBI Crossnacreevy and Greenmount College of Agriculture and Horticulture. First early varieties are tested at a separate early site in the Comber area.

The yield, maturity and reaction to disease of new varieties is assessed in comparison with appropriate control varieties. The quality of harvested tubers for consumption, processing and storage is also assessed in detail.

The evaluation of cooking and processing characteristics is particularly important for potato varieties and is given high priority in the assessment process.

As new crops assume increased importance in Northern Ireland, trials are conducted to determine the best cultivars for local purposes. In recent years, crops such as spring wheat, triticale, combining peas, oilseed rape, winter oats, forage peas, lupins and various forage grasses have been examined.

By closely following the Northern Ireland Recommended Lists, the local agricultural industry, both farmers and the seed trade, can be assured that the varieties they are using are up-to-date, have no major shortcomings and are likely to give the best results under local conditions.