Three new two-row feed winter barley varieties from Senova have been added to the AHDB Recommended List 2025/26.

Among the traits that the trio offers are Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) tolerance, robust and durable resistance to Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV) and unrivalled grain quality. As a result, between them they bring much-needed advances to the two-row feed sector and will help growers to minimise risk, simplify workloads and control costs.

A groundbreaking two-row feed variety, Organa joins the Recommended List on a treated yield of 102 and an untreated yield of 90. It is one of the first in this group with BYDV tolerance, something that was previously only available in six-rows.

An exciting development, Organa has both genes responsible for BYDV tolerance, YD2 and YD3, as well as resistance to strain 1 of BaYMV.

It combines this with a good specific weight of 69.6kg/hl, stiff straw, early maturity and 7 ratings for Rhynchosporium and brown rust. It has also given very good results in the east region, with a yield of 105.

As Senova’s managing director Tom Yewbrey explains, Organa is just one of the company’s winter barleys that will help growers reduce their reliance on artificial inputs and allow them to introduce the SFI actions that reward farmers for not using insecticides and taking an IPM approach.

“There is some impact of BYDV in tolerant varieties but the yield loss is much less than that of susceptible varieties,” he says. “As such, Organa is a really positive introduction for growers who prefer two-row varieties.”

On an exceptional yield of 106, Senova’s Nos Olena becomes one of the joint highest yielding two-row feed varieties on the new list. A Bordeaux cross, it has very stiff straw and good all round disease resistance with 6 ratings across the board, plus medium maturity.

It also offers low brackling and an untreated yield of 87, along with a specific weight of 69.9kg/hl.

“NOS Olena is an excellent all-rounder with advantages over the market leaders. It has performed exceptionally well and we see a place for it on farms across all regions of the UK”.

Kitty, a Valerie cross, has a treated yield of 104. Its other outstanding features are a very high specific weight of 72.7kg/hl and resistance to both strain 1 and strain 2 of Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV).

That gives it a unique position as one of only two varieties to offer this level of virus protection. Kitty also has short, stiff straw and good disease resistance ratings, including a 7 for Rhynchosporium.

Not surprisingly, Senova reports that there has been plenty of early interest in Kitty, as it has immediate appeal to those growing feed barley.

“We know that many barley growers prefer two-rows and we are excited to have such a strong line-up,” says Tom.

“All are high yielding with good agronomics that challenge the existing choices and more than hold their own among the other newcomers.”



All three of these winter barleys are expected to sell well, he stresses. “It’s an exciting time for us as we launch them onto the market.”