Sustainable Decisions Start with Seed

Choosing the right variety involves balancing many factors, from sustainability to profitability. To help growers make sense of varieties, Agrii have created their own Variety Sustainability Ratings (VSR).

In this episode, we are talking to John Miles, Agrii Seed Technical Manager, and Agrii Crop Input Specialist, Sophie Dillon about "Variety Sustainability Ratings", what do they mean and how do we use them?

Can making the right variety choices lower the risk, buy you time in season and maximise your productivity?

What Are Variety Sustainability Ratings?

John Miles:  
Variety sustainability ratings have been around for a few years now. Historically, we've always had advisory lists for winter cereals, spring cereals, and oilseed rape. These sustainability ratings were introduced to see if we could differentiate varieties with a lower carbon footprint.

Essentially, they help identify the most robust and sustainable varieties, allowing growers to focus on what works best for their farms. It’s a useful tool, providing a shortlist of the best material in terms of market suitability, agronomics, and yield performance.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Variety

How crucial is it for growers to make the right decision on what they’re going to plant next season?

John Miles:  
It’s always been important, Tony. While variety choice has always been a bit of fun during the summer field days, today’s farming landscape—with rising costs, changing farm structures, and logistics challenges—makes it more critical than ever. Once you’ve planted a seed, you’re committed for the season. You can't go back, so making the right decision at the start is key.

Key Challenges for This Season's Crops

What have been the key challenges impacting crops this season?

Sophie Dillon:  
The weather patterns this year have been quite challenging, particularly in the North and West Midlands, where I work. The trickiest sites have really tested resilience. For growers, the focus should be on seed varieties that offer pure resilience to give crops a fighting chance.

What about other areas of the UK?

John Miles:  
Sophie is absolutely right. Weather has played a significant role. For example, early sowing dates, brought on by a desire to avoid past autumn challenges, have increased blackgrass pressure. As a result, we’ve seen higher demands on chemical control.

Regionally, challenges vary—yellow rust is a major concern in the East, while septoria is more prevalent elsewhere. Varieties with poor resistance scores have needed more chemical intervention, particularly those on the east coast.

Disease Pressures and Resilience

You’ve both mentioned disease resistance as a key factor in variety selection. Can you elaborate on how this impacts farmers?

John Miles:  
Definitely. Varieties with good disease resistance are crucial, especially for high-yielding crops. We’ve seen an increase in yellow rust, particularly in younger plants, and many farmers haven’t used enough rust-active fungicides early in the season. This has led to problems. Varieties with strong resistance packages may allow for lighter fungicide programs, but this can backfire if rust pressures increase before the plant reaches its adult stage.

Variety Selection and Farm Profitability

What impact does variety selection have on farm profitability?

Sophie Dillon:  
It can make a huge difference. For instance, high-yielding varieties like ‘Red Gold’ may look appealing, but they often come with weaknesses like poor lodging resistance. If a farmer needs to invest heavily in growth regulators, they should consider whether the extra yield is worth the added cost and risk. Sometimes, a more resilient, lower-yielding variety can lead to better overall profitability, especially when factoring in input costs and time.

Agrii R&D Open Days and Variety Demonstrations

How important are variety open days for farmers when making these decisions?

John Miles:  
Open days are invaluable, Tony. Seeing treated and untreated plots side by side gives growers a real sense of how different varieties perform under various conditions. But the real value comes from the conversations—with agronomists, other farmers, and industry experts. It’s an opportunity to learn from others facing similar challenges and to see first hand what’s working in the field.

How to Use Sustainability Ratings in Variety Choice

Can you explain how farmers should use sustainability ratings when choosing varieties?

John Miles:  
Our variety sustainability ratings are built on data from Agrii’s trials, covering everything from disease resistance to yield resilience. These ratings offer a comprehensive view of how a variety will perform under real-world farm conditions. We evaluate traits such as grain quality, disease scores, and lodging resistance to help farmers make informed decisions.

Key Takeaways for Farmers

What are the key considerations you want farmers to take away when selecting varieties?

Sophie Dillon:  
I’d urge farmers to soil sample, think about their unique challenges, and consider their rotations. If you're sowing early, pick a variety with strong disease resilience since it will be in the ground longer and more exposed to disease. Also, focus on your end-use requirements to ensure you’re selecting the best variety for your specific needs.

John Miles:  
I agree with Sophie. Look at what’s worked for you this year, but also think ahead. Diseases like yellow rust and septoria can be persistent, and variety choices need to reflect those risks. Don’t just focus on yield—think about resilience, disease resistance, and how the variety fits into your overall farming strategy.

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