Malting variety promises top yields

Syngenta has high hopes for its new winter malting barley variety, SY Venture, following the granting of provisional approval for brewing use from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

Top yields – some 5% above established malting choices – together with the required agronomic and malting characteristics, give it the potential to be a breakthrough variety, claims Robert Hiles, Syngenta’s head of cereals for north Europe.

“At 104%, SY Venture’s got the highest UK treated yield among the two-row malting varieties by some way,” he says. “That’s equivalent to an extra 0.43t/ha, or £70/ha.”

That means it’s up with the feed varieties in most situations, says Mr Hiles. “It’s performed exceptionally well in the eastern region and has done well on heavy soils. It’s given 5% more yield than Cassata on average over the past three years.”

But equally important is that its yield can be produced reliably and consistently and that its malting and brewing characteristics meet end user needs, he says.

“It’s a step up in quality towards that of the spring varieties and it bridges the yield gap between feed and malting varieties.”
Bob King

“It’s also resistant to barley yellow mosaic virus and has stiff straw, with an eight rating for lodging resistance. Only a handful of other winter barley varieties can match it for standing power.”

Disease resistance ratings are good, with the exception of net blotch, he adds.

Good feedback has been received from end users, says Mr Hiles. “It has the hot water extract, high specific weight and low-medium grade nitrogen that the brewers look for in a winter barley.”

According to Bob King of Crisps, all the indications are that SY Venture will be suitable for the UK brewing market.

“It’s a step up in quality towards that of the spring varieties and it bridges the yield gap between feed and malting varieties.”

Jerry Dyson of Molson Coors confirms there is demand for winter malting barley. “We buy 75,000t of winter malting barley every year. One of our breweries prefers it over spring, due to ease of handling.”

Breeding programme

The focus for all of Syngenta’s spring and winter two-row barley varieties is malting, confirms the company’s head of barley breeding, Paul Bury.

“The hybrid six-rows are aimed at the feed market, because their yield potential is so much higher,” he explains.

SY Venture was developed using Syngenta’s rapid breeding systems, which include double-haploid, fixed-line production and molecular marker screening, he adds. “They allow us to move things forward as quickly as we can.”

A robust malting variety must offer high yields and adaptability over a range of locations, as well as proven standing ability and good disease resistance, says Mr Bury.

“Lower grain nitrogen than the market standards, low screening levels and a consistently good specific weight are also required.”

Low dormancy levels – so that it can be used straight after harvest – and a high hot water extract and enzyme activity are further attributes, he says.

“They then must all come together to create demand from the end users.”

Winter barley

The UK winter barley area has fallen from almost 600,000ha in 2000 to 360,000ha in 2011, says Mr Hiles.

“We believe that could edge up to 400,000ha, as rotations come under pressure and oilseed rape reaches its peak.”

Demand for winter malting barley is good, especially from the real ale market, he adds. “It trades at a slightly lower value – currently £7/t – to spring barley.”

Cassata, Flagon and Pearl all have a place, with Cassata having 14% market share. “We hope SY venture will take 5% this autumn, so that the industry has a good volume to test.”

Malting barley Approval List 2012

There were no changes to the fully approved category in the latest list from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

Spring variety Shuffle was granted P2 approval for brewing use, while winter varieties Archer and SY Venture received P1 approval. New spring types Chronicle, Odyssey and Overture moved to P1 approval for both brewing and malt distilling use.

The only other changes were that Shuffle gained full approval for malt distilling use, while Moonshine moved to P2 approval.