This winter, the first phase of a major review of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds is taking place, as such, people are being asked to complete a questionnaire to help improve the variety trialling project. The review announcement follows endorsement of the Recommended Lists by levy payers in spring 2022, where the project scored 4.2 out of 5.0 for importance during the Shape the Future of farming process.
AHDB’s head of crop health and integrated pest management, Jenna Watts said of the review’s first phase: “We need to hear from farmers to help us hone the Recommended Lists so it continues to fit the complex decision-making needs of modern farming businesses.
“This is a thorough review and will leave no stone unturned. It will cover many aspects, from the type and nature of the trials to the way data is analysed and variety decisions are made. It will also investigate how results reach farmers and ensure that the RL continues to deliver the best value to industry.”
The questionnaire can be accessed on the AHDB website, by clicking the following link: ahdb.org.uk/rl-review. It is open until February 17, 2023, and focuses on levy payer requirements. The initial results are due to be published in the spring of 2023, and will inform the Recommended Lists review’s next phases – which involves planning and costing the actions required to improve the lists over the short, medium and long term.