Seed of a new high-yielding spring malting barley variety, which is undergoing tests for use in both brewing and malt distilling markets, is being launched for this spring.

Shuffle, from Syngenta, was added to the HGCA Recommended List for 2011 at the end of last year.

Now, sufficient seed for around 1500ha is being made available this spring to allow end users to test larger quantities from harvest 2011 and for further seed multiplication, says Syngenta cereal variety specialist Samantha Brooke. Already Shuffle is in testing for Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) malting approval for both brewing and distilling use, she said.

“On the new HGCA Recommended List, Shuffle offers an outstanding UK treated yield among varieties that are either under test for IBD approval for brewing and distilling or are already approved in these markets,” explained Mrs Brooke.

“In the north-east especially, which is a key region for distilling, its fungicide-treated yield is particularly impressive, at the equivalent of more than 7.6 t/ha.

“From an agronomic viewpoint, the other key strengths of Shuffle are that it combines good resistance to rhynchosporium and mildew, with very stiff straw and very high resistance to brackling. All of these are UK-wide issues, though can be particular issues for growers in Scotland.

Overall, Mrs Brooke believed Shuffle will attract the greatest interest from Scottish growers looking for a new distilling variety or English growers interested in its “dual-market” brewing and distilling potential.

However, Shuffle is also being tested overseas, she said, which ultimately may also offer some export potential. “Shuffle is in second-year testing in France and Germany, and is also under test in Holland and Sweden and some Eastern European countries.”