E-Malt.com News article: 1922

Canada: Malting barley production may be a missed opportunity for many farmers, says an Alberta cereal specialist, The Western Porducer posted on December 11. "If you grow human peas, look at malt," Bill Chapman of Alberta Agriculture told a feed and forage conference. "If there is 50 percent acceptance of malt in your area, you should be taking a look at it very seriously."

Budweiser brewed by Anhauser Busch is the top selling beer in North America, capturing 52 % of the market. The brewer buys exclusively six row barley. Last year all the Canadian six-row barley was sold to the American company at a premium of $1.60 per bushel. Gross returns per acre are good, but specific conditions are necessary to grow it.

Pure lots of an acceptable variety are required. It must be insect free and fully mature. It needs to be free of desiccants. Japanese customers test barley lots for 29 different pesticide residues and reject contaminated samples. Malting barley must be seeded into warm soil at a rate of about 25-28 plants per sq. foot. It is preferable to straight cut at harvest time. Check the combine to reduce kernel peeling. This was a problem last fall when the weather was hot during harvest. Consider planting malting barley on a clean field where herbicide-resistant canola was grown the year before. A problem with many barley samples is the presence of too many contaminants, said Chapman.

Harrington is the established variety and its quality gained Canada's entry on the world malt market. However, improved varieties have been released like Metcalfe, the two-row variety bought by Molsons Brewery. There are also good opportunities for those growing feed barley exclusively.

In the last 10 years, 53 % of the barley grown in Alberta has been feed for the province's massive cattle and hog feeding sectors. Better feed efficiency in animals is achieved when they receive consistent, plump kernels. "That is what we have to start talking about to the feed industry," he said. Feedlots do not want low weight barley containing thin, stained kernels.

CDC Dolly remains the favourite feed variety, although Bridge, AC Lacombe and Seebe perform well. Some varieties outyield Dolly but it is the most reliable variety at this time. Researchers are looking at the performance of feed varieties in different climate and soil types because plant yield and disease resistance vary. Work is also ongoing on six row hulless barley for feeding hogs and creating silage for dairy cattle.


12 December, 2003