USA, ID: Researchers forecast a good crop of winter barley

Winter barley is still a niche crop in Idaho, but researchers and growers alike see great promise for the crop, The Prairie Star reported on September, 2.

Winter hardiness – researchers think tolerance is a better description – is still one of the largest challenges for growing winter barley.

Charles, the first winter barley variety released for production, was so sparse many springs that growers had to be persuaded not to plow it out.

Endeavor yielded 111 percent of Charles last year at Soda Springs thanks largely to increased winter hardiness. Endeavor is likely to over take Charles. Growers planted 10,000 acres of winter barley last year.

Researchers at the USDA Agricultural Research Station in Aberdeen are focusing on improving winter tolerance in two-row malting winter malt barley. They have started using German plant material in crosses to improve cold tolerance. Three sibling lines have shown promise the last three years and all three were included in the American Malting Barley Association testing this year.

Even though the German lines are considered malt type, they are experimental and must receive AMBA approval before malt companies will use them.

Ron Elkin, who farms near Buhl, said the relatively mild winter followed by a long cool spring temperatures allowed his winter barley to tiller well.

Winter barley averaged about 190 bushels per acre compared to spring barley that is expected to yield around 90 bushels per acre. He began harvesting winter barley in mid-July, several weeks ahead of the spring grain.

Many growers are interested in growing winter barley because it matures earlier and requires less irrigation water in the spring.

Malt companies see winter barley as a way to manage the harvest season.

07 September, 2011