Release of AC Rosser Barley

The cultivar AC Rosser was approved for release in western Canada in January of 1997. AC Rosser is a six-row feed barley with high yield potential and broad adaptability to western Canadian conditions. It is mainly intended for on-farm use as cattle feed, serving the many cow-calf operations found commonly throughout the region. AC Rosser is similar to Brier in many respects, the main differences being higher yield, improved straw strength, and a better disease-resistance package. This variety is being distributed through SeCan Association, Nepean, Ontario, with commercial release anticipated in 1999.

Cultivar Development

After undergoing some fairly significant changes in the last 3-4 years, the present program is entering a more stable phase. Generous support from the Western Grains Research Foundation’s Volunteer Producer Check-off, as well as Prairie Pools, Inc., has provided to means to develop a program with the depth and breadth to successfully produce new cultivars in a relatively short time and many improvement options. The program is now concentrating on developing hulless and forage barley cultivars. The hulless component is the largest one, with cultivars targeted to meet the needs of the expanding hog and poultry production in western Canada. In collaboration with Dr. R.R. Grandhi, this establishment, hulless barley lines have been identified that reduce manure volume in swine by up to 38.7% (vs. conventional barley or wheat diet) without affecting animal performance. Feed additives have also been identified that greatly reduce odour, also without affecting animal performance. This is a prime environmental issue in western Canada, which is seeing a huge (five-fold) expansion in hog production. The food use of hulless barley is also being developed. We are looking at whole grain, as well as grain components, for use as wheat flour adjuncts, in the malting industry, and neutriceuticals. The hulless effort is done in close collaboration with Dr. Brian Rossnagel and colleagues at the Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK. The forage breeding effort is aimed at developing a forage barley that can be used as either silage, greenfeed, or grain, that is broadly adapted, and produces optimal levels of biomass and nutritional value in ruminants. Some lines have reached the cooperative trials and may be registered as soon as 1999.

A smaller component of the breeding program is looking at alternative uses for barley, primarily industrial uses, such as fibreboard, wax, and absorbents in sewage treatment. In addition to cultivar development, we are conducting research into genetic transformation of barley, molecular marker assisted selection (MMAS), and doubled haploidy (microspore culture). These efforts are in collaboration with a number of colleagues at the Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB. Lastly, we are looking at weed competitiveness in barley, with Brandon colleague Dr. Doug Derksen. We are attempting to select for enhanced weed competitiveness to our most noxious weeds.

Barley Production in Manitoba

The 1997 growing season saw a serious flood in the Red River Valley, the worst in recorded history. Barley production in the valley, which produces roughly half of the province’s barley, was adversely affected by late planting and Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), as well as Spot Blotch (SB). The FHB and SB situation was only marginally better in the rest of the province. Production was down 18% from 1996 levels, and only half of the malting crop was accepted, compared to 80% in 1996. Hulless barley acres remained steady at around 20%. The lack of increase was due to pricing and a disappointing 1996 season. Six-row malting barley dominated the acreage, with 50% of the total. A large portion of this crop was shipped to the U.S. Most of the remaining acreage was sown to feed barley, with roughly one-third of this going to silage or greenfeed. It is expected that six-row malting and hulless barley will continue to dominate production in years to come.