ARBORG, Man. – About 15 years ago, Harold Kletke told a farm meeting he thought barley would be the crop to watch in the future.
“I had some smiles that were a little loud,” recalled the Teulon, Man. seed grower. “They thought I was full of hot air.”
Barley quality and delivery opportunities provided some fodder for conversation among about 40 farmers at an otherwise quiet Grain Days meeting here last week.
Kletke said he went to the meeting to find out what the Canadian Wheat Board’s outlook for barley is this year.
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To his chagrin, he found out the European Union has started to subsidize barley exports again.
Kletke said he’s convinced barley could still be a Cinderella crop if breeders develop a good six-row white aleurone variety that catches the eye of American brewing giants like Anheuser-Busch.
Barley is a big crop in the Interlake region of Manitoba, where more than half goes to the area’s thriving livestock operations.
Kletke said some farmers in the area can get yields of more than 100 bushels per acre.
“Our customers want to sow a malting barley type, and if it’s not accepted for malt, he’s got a good feed barley,” explained Kletke, referring to farmers who buy seed from him.
High moisture levels in the area often prevent barley from being accepted by maltsters, Kletke said, joking that the region could double its malting barley production if scientists could cross barley with bulrushes.
Wheat board advisory committee member Bill Nicholson talked to the farmers about the upcoming vote on barley marketing, and proposed changes to the Canadian Wheat Board Act.
But the farmers didn’t venture into the marketing debate during a brief question period.
