USA: Malting barley industry seeking better varieties with consistent quality

The malting barley industry wants to bolster acres by offering farmers better varieties with consistent quality, Capital Press reported on December 2.

“We’re always trying to improve the selection rate, the percentage of the barley that will make malting quality in a given year,” said Scott Heisel, vice president of the American Malting Barley Association.

Barley acres have declined over the last two decades, down to roughly 3.5 million acres total each year. Roughly 75 percent of that is malting barley, Heisel said.

That number is the minimum number required to supply end users, Heisel said.

“I’m not sure we need to increase it a lot from where we are, especially if we’re successful in increasing that selection rate,” he said.

The majority of malting barley is grown under contract. Heisel recommends a grower have a contract in place, particularly in areas outside the major malting barley-growing regions.

“Growers are going to be more likely to sign that contract if they have varieties that are more likely to make malting quality,” he said. ”We’re trying to reduce that risk of not making malting quality.”

The malting barley association is broadening its member base to include distillers and food companies alongside traditional brewing and malting members.

Companies have begun producing all-malt beers.

“That’s going to require more barley to be used per barrel of beer,” Heisel said. “We need to have a whole portfolio of varieties for the different styles of beer being brewed.”

The association spends $500,000 per year for research on varieties with lower protein and larger and more uniform kernel plumpness, Heisel said.

It takes about 10-12 years for a new variety to be released.

“We’re not just looking out for the industry, we also want varieties that will fit into growers’ rotation,” Heisel said. “We need input on what a grower wants out of a new variety, whether that be a few days earlier maturity. We’re looking to make barley a more attractive crop for the grower as well.”

The association plans to release its annual list of recommended malting barley varieties in late December or early January.

03 December, 2016