Australia: Barley Australia accredits three new varieties as malting barley

The Board of Barley Australia has announced the successful accreditation of three new varieties:

Macquarie (TI677)
Wimmera (VB 0432)
Admiral (WI 4259)

These varieties were accredited as Malting Barley following the evaluation trials conducted in association with the Malting and Brewing Barley Technical Committee assessment under the malting barley evaluation process.

It should be noted that Macquarie, whilst meeting the evaluation criteria for malting barley accreditation, is considered to have limited potential for grower uptake and market demand, given the availability of other more widely-adapted varieties. Accordingly, Macquarie will be acknowledged as an Accredited Variety, but not a Preferred Variety on the Barley Australia website.

Wimmera is a medium rainfall variety and is likely to suit export malt markets with medium to high fermentability requirements.

Admiral is suited to a wide area of medium rainfall across Australia. It should be noted that the VT prefix for Admiral in its trial stages has been dropped and it is known as Admiral barley. It is aimed at export markets requiring high DP and high fermentability.

As with all previous accreditations, it is the market that will determine the success of these new varieties. The Barley Australia malting barley evaluation and accreditation process is recognized as the required standard for the determination of malting barley for all new Australian malting barley varieties, with customers accepting the process and outcomes.

Barley Australia congratulates the various breeders and institutions that have worked to bring these varieties to the marketplace and their uptake and response will be watched with interest.

The Barley Australia website will be updated in the immediate future for both Preferred varieties as well as Accredited varieties and to reflect the status of other varieties under evaluation. Details can be found at www.barleyaustralia.com.au.

26 March, 2014