USA: The American Malting Barley Association releases recommending malting barley varieties list

The American Malting Barley Association, Inc. (AMBA), a nonprofit trade association of U.S. malting, brewing, and distilling companies, has announced recommended malting barley varieties for the 2014 growing season.

Two varieties were added to the recommended list for 2014 and no varieties have been dropped from the previous year.

The added varieties are a two-row variety named ABI Voyager and the six-row variety Innovation. Both these varieties were developed by Busch Agricultural Resources, LLC from crosses made at its facilities in Fort Collins, Colo.

ABI Voyager has high yields in the intermountain region of the western U.S. with improved resistance to the disease Spot Blotch which may allow it to be grown further east than most North American two-rows.

Innovation is broadly adapted and exhibits good kernel plumpness in the upper Midwest and irrigated regions of western North Dakota and eastern Montana.

The recommended two-rowed varieties for 2014 are ABI Voyager, AC Metcalfe, CDC Copeland, CDC Meredith, Charles, Conlon, Conrad, Expedition, Harrington, Hockett, Merit, Merit 57, Moravian 37, Moravian 69, Pinnacle, Scarlett, and Wintmalt.

Six-rowed varieties are Celebration, Innovation, Lacey, Legacy, Quest, Robust, Stellar-ND, and Tradition.

Demand for individual varieties varies and malting barley growers are encouraged to contact their local elevator, grain handler or processor to gauge market demand for varieties grown in their region prior to seeding.

The development of new varieties takes place at both public and private institutions.

AMBA supports the public sector development through its annual research grant program.

“AMBA has contributed $2.1 million to improved barley varieties in the last five years,” said Dr. Michael P. Davis, AMBA president. “A priority is getting high yielding lines recommended for U.S. growers and good quality for the industry.”

AMBA is currently evaluating 43 barley lines in its pilot scale program and has over seven lines in commercial scale trials.

11 April, 2014