The NIAB Recommended List (RL)
The Recommended List system for Herbage varieties provides the Livestock Industry with the very best information on variety developments. With those merchants who support the system being provided with the most up to date information on these developments.
SO WHY IS THE RL SYSTEM SO IMPORTANT?
- The RL system is the only fully independent source of trials information available to English and Welsh farmers, whilst European data has very limited value in our environment.
- Only the very best varieties for English and Welsh farmers are recommended by the NIAB, Herbage Trials Advisory Committee (HTAC). Currently only 1 in 20 varieties tested will be added to the Recommended list.
- The RL system represents farming interest, with the HTAC including merchant and farmer representatives, as a result all varieties added have to show improvements beneficial to farmers.
- The results of not using Recommended varieties in your farm mixtures would be reduced yield and quality, which could easily result in a greater than 10% loss in animal productivity.
SUPPORTING THE SYSTEM
Such is the value of the RL system to the UK Livestock Industry that in 2006 the RL was given a facelift as part of a new initiative to secure continued levy funding for the scheme. Under new arrangements NIAB continues to run RL trials under contract to BSPB, with decisions made by the NIAB, Herbage Trials Advisory Committee (HTAC). Ben Wixey from Wynnstay sits on this committee. BSPB have produced a new identity and logo for the revised RL system, whose new title will be the ‘Herbage Varieties Guide’.
Participating merchants will use the new branding making it very clear to farmers purchasing grass seed who is, and who is not, supporting continued investment in variety testing and evaluation. Only they have the most up to date independent data produced from trials sites in England and Wales. So varieties not on the ‘Herbage Varieties Guide’ will be either
- old varieties which have been outclassed,
- have been shown to be substandard in the testing system
- or were never tested in the UK.
Only the merchants who support UK variety testing are looking out for farmers current and long term interest. They will have the most up to date information and be able to provide the best value for farmers. Farmers must ensure that they are buying seed from these merchants if they want to get the best grass mixtures. Ask to see the NIAB list of seed merchant members or your business will be at a significant competitive disadvantage if you are growing outdated or substandard varieties.
Don Pendergrast, Livestock Crops Specialist. NIAB.
We have pleasure in offering you our range of high performance grass seed mixtures at competitive prices and delivered to your door next day where required. As one of the major grass seed suppliers in the UK we recognise the importance that quality leys have on your business and hope that the popularity of the Wynnstay range gives you the confidence to try our mixtures on your farm and see the benefits for yourself.
