Merlin Spring Oats
High-yielding milling oats for UK growers
Merlin is one of the UK’s leading spring oat varieties, combining high yields, excellent grain quality and outstanding agronomic performance. Suitable for both conventional and organic farming systems, Merlin is accepted by all major UK oat millers and is backed by flexible buy-back opportunities through COPE.
Whether you’re looking to improve blackgrass control, introduce a profitable spring break crop or grow oats for the milling market, Merlin delivers consistent performance across the UK.
Why choose Merlin spring oats?
- Highest yielding spring oat on the AHDB Recommended List in treated trials
- Excellent untreated performance for lower-input farming
- Accepted by major UK oat millers
- Premium flexi-oat buy-back contracts available
- Early maturity suited to all UK regions
- Excellent standing power and lodging resistance
- Low screenings and high grain quality
- Suitable for conventional, regenerative and organic farming systems
What makes Merlin different?
Merlin has been developed to deliver more than high yields. Its combination of early maturity, strong disease resistance, excellent standing ability and low screenings gives growers confidence across a wide range of seasons and farming systems.
For farmers targeting the milling market, Merlin consistently produces grain quality that meets miller specifications while providing the flexibility to reduce inputs where appropriate.
Is Merlin suitable for organic farming?
Yes.
Merlin has established itself as one of the UK’s leading organic spring oats. It performs exceptionally well under lower-input systems while maintaining grain quality and marketability.
Multiple growers have achieved excellent results in organic and regenerative systems, including YEN-winning crops.
Merlin for the milling market
One of Merlin’s biggest strengths is marketability.
Unlike many spring oats grown purely for feed, Merlin is accepted by all major UK oat millers, offering growers confidence that high-quality grain can secure premium markets.
COPE also offers premium flexi-oat contracts to help provide a secure route to market.
Trials data
AHDB harvest 2022
Varieties compared | Treated Yield (%) | Untreated Yield (%) | Height (cm) | Crown rust (%) | Mildew (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merlin | 103 | 99 | 106 | 6.7 | 3.1 |
Isabel | 100 | 91 | 109 | 4.1 | 11 |
Merlin out-yields the UK’s 3 leading spring oats both in treated and untreated trials.
AHDB 5-year mean
Varieties compared | Treated Yield (%) | Untreated Yield (%) |
|---|---|---|
Merlin | 103 | 98 |
Isabel | 101 | 88 |
Canyon | 101 | 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 | Kernel Content | Specific weight (kg/hl) | Screenings (over 2mm) | Lodging (%) | Ripening (+/- Isabel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merlin | 71.7 | 51.1 | 1.7 | 7 | -1 |
Isabel | 73.2 | 53.6 | 2.1 | 8 | 0 |
Canyon | 71.4 | 51.5 | 3 | 21 | -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.
Is Merlin suitable for low-input farming?
Yes. Merlin combines high untreated yields with excellent disease resistance, making it well suited to lower-input and regenerative farming systems.
Can Merlin be grown organically?
Yes. Merlin performs consistently in organic systems and has become a popular choice for organic oat growers throughout the UK.
Which millers accept Merlin?
Merlin is accepted by all major UK oat millers and Cope Seeds offers Premium Flexi-Oat contracts to support growers.
Is Merlin suitable across the UK?
Yes. Thanks to its early maturity, Merlin performs well throughout the UK, including northern and wetter regions.
Agrii
Contact the Agrii office on 0845 6073322 or email
Daltons
Contact David Huish on 01733 222391 or email
GFP
Contact the GFP office on 01652 636444 or email
Harleys
Contact the Harley’s office on 01577 862586 or email
Pearce Seeds
Contact Richard Meecham on 01935 389226 or email
Robin Appel
Contact the Appel office on 01489 896388 or email
Wynnstay
Contact Nigel Britland on 01757 617000 or email
Get in touch
Speak to COPE about growing Merlin