Merlin Spring Oats: Soars above the rest
Merlin is the new outstanding addition to the spring oat market which delivers an unrivalled combination of yield, agronomic features and disease resistance. Merlin Spring Oat is suited to all regions in the UK and produces high quality oats when grown either organically or conventionally.
A Cope Seeds exclusive variety, Merlin spring oat is a high performing, high yielding for treated and untreated crops, and has very low screenings, suiting both the farmer and miller. It’s tall with excellent standing ability that offers a specific weight above the 50kg/hl milling oat requirement.
The highest treated yield of any oat readily accepted by all UK millers
The lowest screenings – a major benefit to the mills
The highest resistance to lodging
Early to mature
The highest untreated yield
Giving growers flexibility
and millers confidence
In UK trials, Merlin was one of the earliest varieties to ripen. Merlin has the lowest screenings compared to any other varieties available. It offers the best all round package, giving growers the flexibility they need with an ever-reducing armoury of chemicals while retaining the miller’s confidence in quality.
“Kernel content is very good and dehulling looks suitable. The screenings were low and the bushel weight was very good. We buy a great deal of organic gluten-free oats for export and the UK and are very keen to support improved varieties for both growers and millers.”
Philip Raynor, Glebe Farm, Cambridgeshire
“We’ve grown Merlin for the last two years, it’s been our highest-yielding oat at well over 3t/acre. It’s early to ripen, is low input, it has good standing ability, and has a very good quality. I’ve got nothing bad to say about it.”
Ronald Dick, mixed farmer, Scotland
“Merlin and Isabel look to be the strongest spring varieties. If more Merlin is grown and it meets spec, there’s no reason why we wouldn’t take it over Isabel.”
Brin Hughes, Agronomy manager,Richardson Milling
To plant Merlin in spring 2023, please contact us or your merchant
Agrii – Contact the Agrii office on 0845 6073322 or accounts@agrii.co.uk
Daltons – contact David Huisch on 01733 222391 or david@daltons.co.uk
GFP – Contact the GFP office on 01652 636444 or info@gfpagriculture.co.uk
Harleys – Contact the Harley’s office on 01577 862586 or info@harleys.co.uk
Pearce Seeds – contact Richard Meecham on 01935 389226 or richard.meecham@pearceseeds.co.uk
Robin Appel – Contact the Appel office on 01489 896388 or enquiries@robin-appel.com
Wynnstay – contact Nigel Britland on 01757 617000 or nigel.britland@wynnstay.co.uk
AHDB harvest 2022
Varieties compared
Merlin
Isabel
Treated Yield (%)
103
100
Untreated Yield (%)
99
91
Height
(cm)
106
109
Crown rust (%)
6.7
4.1
Mildew
(%)
3.1
11
Merlin out-yields the UK’s 3 leading spring oats both in treated and untreated trials.
AHDB 5-year mean
Varieties compared
Merlin
Isabel
Canyon
Treated Yield (%)
103
101
101
Untreated Yield (%)
98
88
96
Merlin offers the best lodging score of any listed variety and is the second earliest maturing variety in Scotland, and 8% higher yielding that the earliest. Merlin also scores an 8 for mildew, the top rating given to any oat.
Varieties compared
Merlin
Isabel
Canyon
Kernel Content
71.7
73.2
71.4
Specific weight (kg/hl)
51.1
53.6
51.5
Screenings (over 2mm)
1.7
2.1
3
Lodging
(%)
7
8
21
Ripening
(+/- Isabel)
-1
0
-1
Merlin’s screenings are the lowest of any listed oat which is a real bonus to the mills and specific weight is over 1% higher than Elyann. It’s this mix of low screenings, good specific weight and kernel content that is generating interest from the millers.
“Merlin established well and had strong disease resistance... The yield was 69t from 9.3ha and the germination was sound. This was a better yield than the other spring oat variety we were growing.”
Richard Monk, Hampshire arable farmer
