Growing Conditions

The 1995-96 barley growing season was colder and wetter than normal. The November-December period was 100 growing-degree days less than normal and resulted in reduced plant tillering. Colder than average temperatures continued through March with much of the barley entering the jointing stage with fewer tillers than normal. Lack of tiller development was the major yield-limiting factor in most barley fields. Head emergence was about a week later than normal. While temperatures dropped well below freezing during the Winter months, little winterkill was observed due to protection provided by a record snow-coverage.

Production

Virginia producers planted 90,000 acres (36,450 ha) of winter feed barley and harvested 75,000 acres (30,375 ha) for grain in 1996. Grain yields across the state averaged 68 bu ac^-1 (3655 kg ha^-1), which was 16 bu ac^-1 (860 kg ha^-1) lower than the state yield-record set in 1995. Total grain production in 1996 was 5.1 million bushels (111,140 metric tons).

State Cultivar Tests

Eleven winter feed-barley cultivars were evaluated at four Virginia locations in 1996. The cultivar Nomini had the highest average yield with 115 bu ac^-1 (6181 kg ha^-1). Other cultivars that had similar yields, ranging from 109-112 bu ac^-1 (5859-6020 kg ha^-1), were Starling, Mollybloom, Callao, and Boone. Average test weights of these cultivars varied from 45.0 lb bu^-1 (579 kg m^-3) for Starling to 48.5 lb bu^-1 (624 kg m^-3) for Callao.

1996 Virginia Barley Yield Contest

Among participants, John Davis of Caroline county had the highest yielding barley at 109 bu ac^-1 (5859 kg ha^-1) over a minimum area of three acres (1.2 ha). The other producers had yields ranging from 101 to 104 bu ac^-1 (5429-5590 kg ha^-1).

Barley Research and Outlook for 1997

While prices received for winter feed barley increased in response to higher prices charged for corn and wheat in 1996, barley is still under utilized as a feed ingredient by the poultry and swine industries in states that are considered to be deficit for supply of feed grains. Winter barley is the most viable crop in the small grain and soybean double-crop systems of the mid-Atlantic states. For this reason, Small Grains Associations in Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Maryland have allocated resources for researchers to develop barley cultivars with value-added traits, i.e., better feed value. We also have been working with poultry nutritionists and industry representatives to determine what improvements are needed to make winter feed barley more acceptable as a feed component.