This CPT book outlines trial-specific yields and individual cultivar disease ratings for spring sown wheat and barley cultivars included in the 2025-2026 CPT trials.
While the 2025-26 season saw challenges for many of our autumn Cultivar Performance Trials (CPT), establishment conditions across the country were more favourable for spring trials.
Irrigated spring wheat trials performed strongly, achieving an average yield of 10.1 t/ha compared with a four-year mean of 9.3 t/ha. The dryland spring wheat trial in the lower North Island
achieved 8.6 t/ha, similar to the long-term mean of 8.5 t/ha. Spring barley yields were more variable. In Canterbury, some individual trial yields were above average, while others were below.
Overall, spring barley yields in Canterbury were similar to the four-year mean with 10.4 t/ha compared to 10.2 t/ha. The lower North Island trial achieved 9.1 t/ha, exceeding the four-year mean of 8.6 t/ha. In contrast, Southland trials were lower than the four-year mean with 9.8 t/ha compared with 10.3 t/ha. The spring barley trial at Balfour was not harvested
due to poor establishment. Low disease pressure in disease nurseries resulted in few changes to foliar disease ratings.