BARLEY GROWERS across the UK are now much more interested in exploiting the benefits of six-row varieties, according to an industry poll.

The results of the survey carried out on FWi show that nationally, 82% of respondents thought six-rows made better financial sense than two-row winter feed barley.

In addition, 89% of those who responded thought that modern six-row varieties were better than two-row winter malting barley sold for feed.

One Somerset grower, Ivan Hunt, who feeds six-row barley to his 250 head of Limousin and Belgian Blue beef cattle, hints at a possible reason for this rising interest.

“The six-row coming off first works well because it‘s relatively high in fibre, so makes a good introduction from old to new crop.

“The two-row is a bit rich for them at this stage,” explains Mr Hunt.

According to growers, average yields of six-row varieties also compared well to their two-row counterparts.

Responses to the FWi survey found that average six-row yields were approximately 1t/ha above two-row varieties at 7.92t/ha.

Trial results last harvest by a leading agricultural merchant have also found similar yield advantages from six-rows, according to Jim Carswell, Trials and Technical Manager for Allied Grain

“Two years of company evaluations across 3 sites have shown a mean yield advantage of 1 t/ha for newcomer 6-row variety Sequel over a leading malting variety.”

Despite this yield benefit, concerns over impaired grain quality did not appear to materialise.  “Both varieties achieved above the 63 kg/hl threshold for specific weight.

But growers in the FWi poll remain uncertain about the profitability of six-row feed varieties compared to two-row for malting, with 59% of respondents preferring the latter.