Production. Virginia producers planted 100,000 acres (40,500 ha) of winter feed barley and harvested 80,000 acres (32,400 ha) for grain in 1995. Grain yields across the state averaged 84 bu ac^-1 (4515 kg ha^-1), which was 5 bu ac^-1 (269 kg ha^-1) higher than the previous record set in 1992. Total grain production in 1995 was 6.72 million bushels (146,440 metric tons).

State Cultivar Tests. Ten winter feed barley cultivars were evaluated at six Virginia locations in 1995. The cultivar Nomini had the highest average yield with 119 bu ac^-1 (6396 kg ha^-1). Other cultivars that had similar yields, ranging from 110-116 bu ac^-1 (5912-6235 kg ha^-1), were GA-Everett, Starling, Callao, and Wysor. Average test weights of these cultivars varied from 45.3 lb bu^-1 (583 kg m^-3) for Starling to 50.3 lb bu^-1 (647 kg m^-3) for Callao.

1995 Virginia Barley Yield Contest. Twelve Virginia producers representing seven counties participated in the contest. John Davis of Caroline county had the highest yielding barley at 151 bu ac^-1 (8116 kg ha^-1) over a minimum area of three acres (1.2 ha). The other producers had yields ranging from 109 to 143 bu ac^-1 (5859-7686 kg ha^-1).

Barley Research and Outlook for 1996. Inheritance of leaf rust resistance to race 30 of Puccinia hordei is currently being studied in 14 spring barley lines obtained from CIMMYT and in nine Hordeum spontaneum accessions from Israel. Resistance to race 30 in VA92-42-46 barley is governed by two recessive genes. One of these genes is Rph5, which confers a ;1⁼N infection type. The other gene confers a ;12C infection type, and appears to be different from all previously described genes. Prices received in 1995 for winter feed barley were low; therefore, a significant reduction in acreage is expected in 1996.