Sparkler: A bright new winter wheat variety

Outstanding yield potential from year one

For a variety in its first year on the Recommended List, Sparkler's yield potential is one of the first features that catches the eye. It has been crowned the joint highest treated yielding Soft Group 4 variety, achieving 106% on the AHDB 2026/27 Recommended List for the UK.

Sparkler excels in the north where it has an excellent treated yield of 108%, albeit based on limited data. Its untreated yield (87%) also positions it competitively within the soft wheats. 

Robust agronomic profile

Sparkler's excellent yield potential has not come at the expense of quality. The variety has a very good specific weight of 76.7kg/hl and respectable Hagberg (226) and protein content (10.8) levels.

Sparkler is relatively high tillering, helping to cover the ground in the autumn and although it is taller strawed than some, straw strength is very good making it a good option for those also requiring straw for livestock.

Flexibility in the field and market

If you are looking for a variety that allows for flexible drilling, then Sparkler looks like it has potential. We will be monitoring it closely this year to check its precise behaviour in the field, but from what we have seen so far, we believe it can accommodate both early and late sowings, extending through to November in some areas, without compromising performance.

It has also shown consistent results across all soil types and as a second wheat, adding to its appeal.

One of Sparkler's standout traits is its outstanding alcohol yield, making it a strong candidate for distilling and feed markets. 

A strong disease resistance package

For many growers, the yellow rust challenges faced during the 2025 growing season has meant that disease resistance remains a significant talking point. The good news is that Sparkler doesn't disappoint on this front either.

Sparkler boasts the highest Septoria tritici rating (7.2) of any soft wheat on the Recommended List, and indeed is on a level with Champion, which has long been recognised as demonstrating good Septoria resistance.

It also offers strong yellow rust resistance (7) following the difficult summer of 2025, making it easy to see why this variety has progressed onto the AHDB RL. 

How it's looking in our trials 

Indeed, it's the yellow rust resistance that's helping to draw attention to Sparkler in our winter wheat trials at the time of writing (early March 2026). While yellow rust is only evident in the Borders trials currently, it is present across a wide range of varieties, ensuring that those still unaffected, such as Sparkler, are standing out for all the right reasons.

There's a long way to go between now and harvest, but Sparkler is showing real promise as we enter the spring.