Lodging in cereals is a complex problem because it is influenced by a large number of environmental factors and there are several different types of lodging. The aim of this work was to identify specific and easily measurable plant traits that contribute to lodging resistance and that may permit the evaluation of individual plants grown under conditions not necessarily conducive to lodging. Correlations and regressions with lodging and among measured and derived traits were calculated. Lodging was quite variable among replications of each variety, but was significantly correlated with breaking resistance and culm diameter for each of the three internodes below the peduncle. Lodging was also significantly correlated with spike weight at flowering and maturity. All measured traits (except spike weights) were significantly correlated with straw breaking resistance. The derived parameter of diameter times weight per unit length (DxW/L[=W/L/D]) could explain over 85% of the variation in breaking resistance at both flowering and maturity; including other traits contributed very little additional information. The regressions of all measured and derived traits with lodging at maturity were not significant because it is so difficult to accurately measure lodging resistance. The identification of basic culm characteristics related closely to breaking resistance was considered to be significant, and ultimately more useful than selecting for lodging resistance in a breeding program. It is speculated that lodging resistance would be increased by selection for larger culm diameter and increased weight per unit length in barley grown in the Ontario environment. Additional parameters accounting for rooting characteristics may also have some influence on lodging resistance, particularly in some other environments.