DONT GET LEFT OUT WITH BARLEY OPTIONS
DONT GET LEFT OUT WITH BARLEY OPTIONS
ONLY one third of winter barley grown for malting was actually supplied to that market from harvest 2000, suggesting 80% of all winter barley grown in the UK is used for feed, says Dalgety.
That is something growers need to consider when choosing varieties for the coming season. Growers who fail to realise a premium from malting barley could be £50/ha worse off than if they had grown the highest yielding winter feed barley, says the firms national seeds manager Barry Barker.
"In UK treated trials Siberia out-yielded Regina and Pearl by 8%," explains Mr Barker. "When these varieties end up in the feed market, that yield difference costs the farmer £50/ha. So in an over-supplied malting market it makes sense to plan for high yields with feed quality rather than opting for dual-purpose varieties.
"If you are growing Regina for malting premiums, then plan the inputs accordingly to ensure the best quality. But go for high yielding varieties to produce feed grains – whether it is for on-farm feeding or selling into the market. That is where Siberia fits in."
The variety overcomes previous six-row agronomy concerns, with Recommended List ratings more akin to a robust winter wheat, he claims.
Growing a dual-purpose barley and failing to meet malting spec could cost growers £50/ha. Choose a top yielding feed type, like the six-row Siberia instead, urges Dalgetys Barry Barker.