Strong Performance from CHAMPION in Prime Crop Research’s Independent Winter Wheat Trials

Prime Crop Research conducted a winter wheat variety trials programme during the 2025-26 season, whereby 15 varieties were assessed on a farm in Dereham, Norfolk. The trials followed an oilseed rape crop, and were drilled into sandy clay loam soil on the 30th of September 2025 and 13th of October 2025.  Using an early and late sowing date provides a useful comparison between varieties and how they respond to the changes in sowing date. The trial measured grain yield, disease performance and specific weight.

DSV’s CHAMPION had the highest mean grain yield of 12.35 t/ha, across the two sowing dates, highlighting CHAMPION’s ability to deliver high yields across a wide sowing window. An important thing for growers to consider as weather patterns are becoming more variable.  

Disease pressure at the trial site was significant, with yellow rust being the most noticeable. The later drilled wheat experienced more yellow rust pressure than the earlier drilled plots, and the new strain of yellow rust had a large impact. The group 4 varieties, including CHAMPION, had a yield response of over 4.0 t/ha to fungicides, in the October drilled trial, highlighting the rewards of an efficient disease management protocol.

These results are backed by a second larger winter wheat variety trial which was also conducted in 2025-26 by Prime Crop Research, with 30 varieties in Henely, Suffolk. The wheat was drilled into sandy clay loam soil, after combining peas, on the 15th of October 2025. Yellow rust was again the most predominant disease, with disease pressure being more moderate than in the smaller trial.