Merlin, the high-performing spring oat variety, has continued its award-winning run, securing a third gold at the 2026 Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) Awards. Merlin's combination of high yields, early maturity, and strong standing power is now helping growers across the UK to achieve consistently top results.

This year, John Anderson, a mixed farmer near Thurso in the far north of Scotland, won gold with a Merlin crop yielding 10.09 t/ha, harvested on 10th September 2025. Anderson previously achieved a gold-winning yield of 10.06 t/ha with Merlin in 2023.

"We first grew Merlin in 2022, and since then we've converted all our oat acreage to it," said John Anderson. "It consistently delivers the best yields of any spring oat I've grown. Even with low nitrogen applications this year, it stood well and produced excellent quality. Its performance makes it a reliable choice across short-season areas like ours, but it's just as effective in longer-season regions elsewhere in the UK."

Anderson runs a mixed farm with 400 acres of Merlin milling oats alongside 300 acres of spring malting barley. Nutrient inputs for the 2025 crop included 56 kg/ha of phosphorus, 56 kg/ha of potassium, 39 kg/ha of sulphur, and just 60 kg/ha of nitrogen, supplemented by manure. A single herbicide and fungicide application kept the crop healthy, while bushel weights remained strong at 55–60, suitable for gluten-free milling at Hamlyns of Scotland.

Douglas Gordon at Harley Seeds in Scotland commented: "Merlin continues to deliver excellent results across the UK. We first contracted Merlin for the 2021 harvest, and its popularity has grown every year. It became the No. 1 oat variety for certified seed sales in Scotland in Spring 2024, continued into Spring 2025, and early indications show Spring 2026 will follow the same trend. Early ripening, low screenings, high yields, and strong quality make Merlin a robust and dependable variety for growers from the northern Highlands to southern England."

Merlin's strong standing power, high-yielding potential, and adaptability make it ideal for UK spring cropping systems, where growers are seeking reliable oats to meet both milling and feed specifications. The variety has already proven its calibre in national trials: last year, Lincolnshire farmer Mark Popplewell achieved a record-breaking yield of 11.46 t/ha with Merlin at the 2025 YEN awards – more than double the national average.

"The numbers were so high we thought the equipment was faulty," said Popplewell. "The grain tank was filling faster than even a strong wheat crop."

Merlin is now widely recognised across the UK for its consistent performance, making it the oat of choice for farmers seeking high yields, early maturation, and milling quality.

Growers interested in Merlin are encouraged to contact their local seed merchant for more information on seed availability and contracts.