WINTER BARLEY could play a key role in future arable rotations and will be the key focus for New Farm Crops at this year’s Cereals Event.

With an earlier harvest date, winter barley can help spread machinery and labour workloads, as well as providing a profitable return in its own right, said NFC’s Robert Hiles.

He believes varieties producing high yields will be crucial to this profitability and is keen to highlight the new potential malting variety Flagon, which was recommended last December.

“It is now the highest yielding winter malting variety on the HGCA Recommended List 2005. With a treated yield of 102% it is four percentage points higher than the UK’s current main winter malting variety.”

From a control yield of 8.2t/ha, every 1% increase in yield is worth an extra £6.15/ha to the grower – based on a malting barley price of £75/t, Mr Hiles noted.

Growers will also be able to discuss existing varieties and see the latest HGCA Recommended List hybrid candidate, Boost.

Cereals 2005 will be held on June 15 & 16 at Rectory Farm, Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire.

For the latest news and information in the build-up, see FWi’s dedicated Cereals 2005 section.