When deciding what malting barley varieties to grow next year, farmers should consider markets as well as agronomic issues.
The Malting Barley Industry Group, representing organizations and companies involved in malting barley exports, has developed a list of recommended varieties to help farms make seeding decisions.
The list is “a current indication of anticipated market demands and customer preferences for Canadian-grown varieties,” Susan Wiklund, who presides over the group and is a director in the Canadian Wheat Board’s country services division, said in a news release.
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The group does not recommend the two-row variety Klages, nor does it recommend the following six-row varieties: Bonanza, Argyle, Duel and Tankard.
The group notes that farmers considering varieties in the restricted category should ensure they have a commitment from a local elevator, a company with proprietary rights to the varieties or a maltster that is selecting the variety for market development and testing.
It also notes several malting barley varieties with interim registration are being grown in limited quantities for market development projects.
Varieties with interim registration include: Six rows – BT433 (CDC Sisler), BT435, and BT941. Two rows – B1202, TR118, TR129, TR139, TR145, TR243, TR970 (Merit).
