THE hybrid oil seed rape variety Pronto has given the top yield in demonstration plots at Croft, near Darlington.

The 35-acre demonstration site was visited by many local growers during an open day held by Farmway earlier this year.

Mr David Hamilton, Farmway seeds manager, said Pronto yielded 12pc more than Apex. "With hybrid rape seed considerably cheaper than last year, many growers are now switching to hybrids," he said.

Licrown was the top yielding conventional variety and Mr Hamilton said that, with rape drilling later than normal because of the late harvest, varieties with good early vigour such as Licrown and the hybrids were ideal.

In the barley plots, six-row varieties Damas and Siberia both gave top equal yield at 119pc. However Siberia's yield was, as expected, let down by a poor specific weight. Damas gave a much better quality sample with a specific weight close to the two-row varieties.

Pearl and Antigua also performed well, while popular barley varieties Heligan and Regina gave a slightly lower yield.

Wheat plot results are not yet available.