THE UK’s most widely grown oat, bred at Aberystwyth University, has scooped one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades.

The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) has awarded its coveted Variety Cup to the winter oat Mascani describing it as an “exceptional variety” and praising “its unmatched quality and reliability”. 

Mascani was bred by researchers at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and is marketed across the UK by Senova Ltd. 

The variety is extremely popular in the milling industry and is known for its consistent grain quality along with reliability in the field and resistance to crop disease.

The 2025 NIAB Variety Cup for Mascani was presented to Dr Catherine Howarth from IBERS and Alison Barrow from Senova Ltd at an awards ceremony at the 2025 Cereals event in Lincolnshire.

The Variety Cup acknowledges exceptional varieties that have made a major contribution to crop productivity through improved quality, disease resistance, grower return or commercial success, and can be drawn from the entire spectrum of horticultural, ornamental and agricultural crops.

Clare Leaman, Niab’s cereal specialist, said: “Despite the emergence of newer oat varieties boasting improved yield and agronomic traits, Mascani has maintained dominance in the industry due to its exceptional quality characteristics, which continue to meet the exacting standards of millers. Its success is testament to the unique dynamics of UK oat breeding programmes which often lead to varieties with remarkable longevity. Mascani’s sustained relevance highlights its unmatched quality and reliability, even in a competitive landscape, making it a prime contender for the Niab Variety Cup.”

Research on developing the Mascani oat began at IBERS thirty years ago and the variety was added to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s (AHDB) list of recommended seeds in 2004.

Dr Catherine Howarth, oat breeding and research lead at IBERS in Aberystwyth University, said: “As a research team, we are incredibly proud to accept the Niab Variety Cup for Mascani. It’s a huge honour for all those who have been involved in the development of the variety – from the original cross in 1995 and subsequent years of selection to its release onto the market as a game changing variety. Its superb quality, yield and excellent milling consistency has made Mascani a favourite across the UK for growers, merchants and millers alike. Its continuing success is evidenced by its share of the UK winter oat market, which has been over 70% for the past 6 years. Oats offer clear benefits to human health, including lowering cholesterol as well as contributing to a more sustainable environment.”

Alison Barrow, Technical Marketing Manager at Senova Ltd, highlighted that, after 21 years on the AHDB Recommended List, the variety continues to stand the test of time and remains the top-selling winter oat variety, with over 70% of the UK winter oat market.

“We’re delighted with the recognition of Mascani’s status and reputation within the marketplace by Niab. Mascani’s success can be attributed to its combination of superior grain quality and performance in the mill, along with its reliability in the field and suitability for sustainable rotations. Appealing to both end users and farmers alike, the variety has spearheaded the increase in UK-wide oat plantings and boosted development work into alternative oat markets, as the health and nutritional benefits of oats have been recognised. As a result, we now see oats being eaten at different times of day to just the traditional breakfast occasion.”

Speaking at the Cereal awards ceremony, Niab Chief Executive Professor Mario Caccamo, said: “It takes an exceptional variety to win the Niab Variety Cup, or its sister Cereals Cup, with candidates reviewed annually by our crop specialists and agronomists. This year, we had several strong contenders for the Variety Cup, and it is incredibly rewarding to acknowledge Mascani’s long-standing contribution to the industry. Its success exemplifies the impact that superior crop varieties can have on productivity and grower returns.

“As Mascani’s legacy continues to inspire innovation in crop breeding, Niab reaffirms its commitment to recognising and fostering excellence in agriculture. The Niab Variety Cup remains a symbol of achievement and dedication, inspiring breeders to push the boundaries of plant breeding.”

Established in 1986, the Niab Variety Cup is not awarded annually and is only presented when the organisers decide there is an exceptional variety which deserves recognition. It has been won twice before by plant breeders at Aberystwyth – for the perennial ryegrasses Aberdart in 2003 and Abergreen in 2015.

Tory MS warns Welsh Government not to sacrifice food security for ideology

VALE of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies has called on the Welsh Government to impose a moratorium on the development of large-scale solar farms on productive agricultural land.

Speaking during a Welsh Conservatives debate in the Senedd on solar energy, Mr Davies urged ministers to adopt a more balanced approach that protects rural communities and food security, warning that current policy risks sacrificing farmland for limited environmental gain.

He told the chamber: “I’m deeply concerned by the rush to cover our valuable farmland in solar panels at the cost of food production and rural livelihoods. We can and should pursue renewable energy, but that pursuit must be rooted in evidence, not ideology.”

Mr Davies argued that Wales’ limited sunshine and growing food security concerns made the proliferation of solar farms on farmland particularly troubling. He noted that even in sunnier countries, solar energy is intermittent and requires vast amounts of land – a resource Wales can ill afford to lose.

He also warned that the growing trend of solar developments on farmland could be interpreted by the farming community as part of a wider agenda to phase out livestock agriculture, particularly in light of proposals under the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme which would see reductions in livestock numbers.

Instead, the Conservative MS called for greater investment in rooftop solar for homes, schools and public buildings, and urged the Government to prioritise more consistent forms of renewable energy such as tidal and hydroelectric power.

Mr Davies also raised environmental concerns over the toxicity of materials used in solar panels and the long-term damage to soil where solar infrastructure is installed.

Referring to recent global shocks such as the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed the importance of safeguarding Wales’ domestic food production capability.

“Wales needs energy that is secure, affordable and sustainable – not the result of an expensive ideological push,” he said. “I urge the Welsh Government to consider brownfield and degraded sites for solar development, rather than sacrificing our farmland. We must protect our farmers and preserve our capacity to feed ourselves.”

JCB is set to make a powerful return to the Royal Welsh Show this July, unveiling a series of new agricultural machines that promise enhanced performance, versatility and efficiency.

Working alongside its Welsh dealer partners – Chandlers RFM, Emyr Evans, J E Lawrence, and Rea Valley Tractors – JCB Agriculture will showcase an impressive line-up, including the newly-upgraded 435S wheeled loader, two brand-new Telemaster telescopic wheeled loaders, and the latest specification of its Teleskid tracked skid-steer loader.

John Smith, Managing Director of JCB Agriculture, said: “Following the launch of an unprecedented number of new materials handling machines, it’s important to provide our Welsh dealers the opportunity to present these innovations to customers. The Royal Welsh Show is the perfect platform.”

Among the anticipated highlights are the compact-yet-capable TM110 and the mid-size TM280 and TM280S telescopic wheeled loaders. The TM110, standing at just 2.2m tall and 1.56m wide, offers a 1.1-tonne lift and a 3.5m reach, powered by a 50hp hydrostatic drive – making it ideal for navigating tight spaces with ease.

The larger TM280 and TM280S models feature powerful 109hp and 130hp engines respectively, with lift capacities of up to 2.75 tonnes and reach up to 4.8 metres. Despite their strength, they maintain a best-in-class 2.6m cab height for access through low doorways. The TM280S further impresses with JCB’s DualTech VT transmission, optimising performance at both low and high speeds.

Also turning heads will be the updated 435S wheeled loader, a contractor favourite. It now boasts 282hp – a 12% increase – delivering 19hp per tonne and more torque throughout the rev range. Transmission enhancements include direct-drive lock-up for road use and configurable lock-up for field operations.

Another standout is the latest JCB Teleskid 3TS-8T. This tracked skid-steer loader maintains its industry-exclusive single telescopic arm, side-entry cab, and superior reach of 4.03m. The new model features a lighter, more efficient 3-litre JCB DieselMAX engine that’s greener, torquier, and delivers 74hp.

The display will also feature several Loadall telescopic handlers, including the new 542-100 AGRI, the 538-60 AGRI Pro with DualTech VT, and the powerful 560-80 AGRI Pro.

Visitors can also find JCB’s construction dealer, Holt JCB, exhibiting the new X Series 145XR excavator – an 18.8-tonne reduced tailswing model designed for tight working conditions – as well as mini-excavators (25Z and 16C), and the popular 4CX backhoe loader.

The Royal Welsh Show takes place at Builth Wells from Monday 21st to Thursday 24th July.