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Secobra varieties recognised across the 2026 UK Spring Barley Recommended List

Secobra varieties - Belter
Secobra varieties recognised across the 2026 UK Spring Barley Recommended List
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Secobra UK has strengthened its position in the spring barley market, with seven Secobra bred varieties recognised in the newly released 2026 AHDB Recommended List. The line-up includes one fully approved malting variety, two new provisional additions, a high yielding feed option, one described variety and two newcomers under testing for malting use.

The breadth of representation marks an important step in Secobra’s continued expansion in the UK, where demand for reliable, high quality spring barley remains central to both farming and the wider malting and brewing supply chain.

Belter achieves Full MBC Approval for brewing

Following years of strong and consistent performance in both field trials and laboratory analysis, Belter has now secured Full Approval for brewing from the Malting Barley Committee. Bred in the UK by Secobra barley breeder Paul Bury, Belter combines:

  • High treated and untreated yields across all regions
  • Strong agronomic resilience, including stiff straw and high brackling resistance
  • High extract and good fermentability
  • Potential for both brewing and malt distilling markets
  • The highest yielding malting variety on the 2026 AHDB Recommended List

The variety has attracted positive feedback from across the supply chain for its consistency in both agronomic and malting performance. Seed will be available for harvest 2026 drilling.

Two Secobra varieties remain under Provisional status and continue to show strong early potential;

Ptarmigan

  • High yield potential in the West and North
  • High resistance to mildew and net blotch, based on limited data
  • Strong untreated yields
  • Under test for brewing and malt distilling use

Firecracker

  • High treated yields in East and North, with very high potential in the West
  • High mildew and net blotch resistance
  • Under test for brewing and malt distilling use
  • Relatively stiff straw with moderate brackling resistance

Both varieties are currently under assessment by the Malting Barley Committee.

Hurler continues as a strong feed option

Hurler, a high yielding feed variety, remains a reliable choice for growers seeking performance outside the malting market.

Key traits include:

  • Strong yields throughout the UK
  • High resistance to mildew and net blotch
  • Short with high brackling resistance
  • Strongest-strawed Spring barley available
  • Later maturity
  • Lower specific weight

CB Score

CB Score, a Null Lox spring malting barley developed for Carlsberg, as part of a low carbon footprint breeding programme, is listed as a Described variety on the AHDB Recommended List. It has delivered its best relative performance in the North region. CB Score has very high resistance to mildew and high resistance to net blotch. It is a relatively stiff strawed variety with high resistance to brackling.

Two Secobra varieties under testing for malting: Trailblazer and Roulette

Trailblazer

  • Very high treated yield potential across all regions
  • Very high mildew resistance
  • High net blotch resistance
  • Stiff straw with moderate brackling resistance
  • Under test for brewing and malt distilling

Roulette

  • High treated yields in East and North, with very high potential in the West
  • Very high mildew resistance
  • Strong untreated performance
  • Susceptible to rhynchosporium
  • Later maturity with moderate brackling resistance
  • Under test for brewing and malt distilling
Building momentum in the UK spring barley sector, Tom Barker, UK Commercial Manager at Secobra, said: “The 2026 Recommended List highlights the growing strength and depth of Secobra genetics in the UK. We are pleased to see strong performance from both established and newly emerging varieties. We remain committed to the full supply-chain, supporting growers, merchants and end users with genetics that deliver consistency, resilience and quality.”