Barley quality encouraging HGCA survey
| By FWi staff |
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FIRST impressions of this seasons barley quality are encouraging.
The wet weather during winter and a slow start to spring growth does not seem to have excessively impacted on barley quality as first thought.
The UK average specific weight of 68.17 kg/hl is 1.37kg/hl higher than the five-year average, while nitrogen contents are on average 0.11% lower than the five year average.
However, grain size data, formed by using varying sizes of sieves, indicate a generally smaller grain size in relation to previous years.
On a regional basis (see also table) Eastern regions demonstrated the highest quality specifications overall, while the Midlands and Northern counties both show higher levels of small grain contents.
This could be a result of having fewer samples to analyse as the barley harvest is later here than in the south and east.
It should be noted that this first quality report of the 1999 harvest uses sample data from early cut fields.
Typically these fields have light soils and are well disposed to growing successful malting barley crops. Subsequent quality updates may well show a lower quality crop average as sample results from later cut fields arrive.
Preliminary results – Cereal quality survey as at 04 August
| BARLEY Analysis By Region For All Varieties (mean values) |
Specific Weight (kg/hl) Small Grains (%<2.2mm) Nitrogen Content (%dm) Screenings (%>2.25mm) Screenings (%>2.25mm) Eastern 68.49 (45) |
3.87 (46) |
1.49 (45) |
94.57 (35) |
85.40 (46) |
Northern 67.23 (36) |
3.74 (25) |
1.99 (33) |
92.44 (8) |
76.43 (8) |
South Eastern |
68.11 (55) |
5.72 (50) |
1.68 (55) |
93.24 (55) |
81.41 (45) |
South Western |
68.68 (70) |
6.12 (69) |
1.64 (67) |
91.50 (69) |
79.75 (37) |
Midlands |
65.98 (8) |
6.23 (6) |
1.75 (6) |
92.18 (8) |
78.39 (8) |
UK Average |
68.17 (214) |
5.18 (200) |
1.68 (206) |
92.75 (175) |
81.88 (144) |
Figures in brackets indicate sample numbers |
BARLEY Analysis By Variety For UK (mean values) |
Specific Weight (kg/hl) Small Grains (%<2.2mm) Nitrogen Content (%dm) Screenings (%>2.25mm) Screenings (%>2.25mm) Chariot 71.42 (9) |
2.65 (9) |
1.49 (9) |
96.59 (9) |
92.36 (3) |
Fanfare |
70.08 (66) |
5.24 (62) |
1.57 (65) |
93.11 (55) |
82.71 (54) |
Halycon |
69.25 (17) |
7.84 (14) |
1.52 (16) |
86.31 (17) |
76.47 (14) |
Optic |
69.78 (6) |
3.79 (6) |
1.59 (6) |
94.02 (6) |
90.56 (4) |
Regina |
65.89 (72) |
5.93 (69) |
1.71 (70) |
92.65 (65) |
80.64 (53) |
Figures in brackets indicate sample numbers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Taken from HGCA MI Quality Update To contact the HGCA phone 0207-520 3972 or Click here to visit the Home-Grown Cereals Authority |
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Phone: 0207 520 3972; Fax: 0207 520 3918: Email: ruperts@hgca.com |
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