Barley Production and Management

Manitoba's unique climate and central location make it one of the most productive barley-growing areas in the world. The long warm summer days characteristic of the Canadian prairies, our clean environment and the large fertile land base provide excellent growing conditions for some of the world's highest quality barley.

 

Our cold winter months also greatly reduce our exposure to some of the crop diseases more commonly found in warmer climates. Manitoba's location, in the heart of North America, is close to major processors in Canada and the United States and, being directly located on north-south and east-west shipping routes, Manitoba receives superior service by road, air and rail. Thus, our central location coupled with its unique climate results in accessible, high quality barley.

 

Field Selection

Select fields with good drainage, sandy loam to heavy clay soil textures.

 

For malting, seed or food uses, avoid fields where volunteers of other varieties of barley, other cereals and large oilseeds such as sunflowers may be a problem. Avoid fields that had cereal crops in the previous year to reduce disease pressure and optimize yields.

 

Seeding Barley

Treatments

 

Loose or surface-borne smuts (covered and false loose smut) that attack barley can be controlled by fungicide seed treatment. Leaf spot diseases of barley overwinter on barley straw, stubble and seed. Treat seed from infected fields to reduce seedling infection.

 

Seeding Depth

 

1.5 to 2 inches. Deeper seeding results in weaker plants, reduced emergence, greater susceptibility to root rot and decreased yield.

 

Diseases Affecting Barley

Barley fields should be monitored for leaf diseases on a regular basis during the growing season. Identifying the disease and, if control is warranted, apply a registered fungicide to minimize yield loss. Timing of the fungicide application is critical, so read and follow label directions carefully.

 

Net blotch and scald are the most common foliar diseases attacking most varieties of barley. Fields where these or other troublesome barley diseases are found should not be planted back to barley the next year because of an increased risk of a serious yield loss and reduced kernel plumpness.

 

All forms of smuts can be controlled with the appropriate seed treatment.

 

A new race of stem rust, which attacks all of our previously resistant varieties, has appeared in the eastern Prairie and the northern great plains. Early sowing is the only practical measure that can be taken at this time to reduce the risk of yield loss from this disease.

 

If ergot has been a problem, rotate with a non-susceptible crop for one year to reduce disease incidence. Cultivate fields after harvest to bury ergot bodies to a depth of at least two inches. Mow grass headlands and roadsides before heading to reduce ergot spread. If the seed source is known to contain ergot bodies, storage for more than one year reduces the viability to almost zero. Levels of ergot bodies in the harvested grain above 0.1 per cent may be toxic in livestock feed.

 

Harvesting Barley

Swathing

 

Swath when the heads have lost their green colour and have a moisture content below 30 per cent. At 30 per cent the barley kernel is firm but can be dented with your thumbnail.

 

Combining

 

Hulled Barley

 

To minimize cracking and breakage, slow the cylinder speed, increase the concave clearance and maintain low volume in the return. For malting barley, check the sample for the presence of a bit of awn on the kernels to signal that the combine is doing a proper job of threshing. Awns of 1/8 to 1/4 inch left on the kernels are desired.

 

Combining can begin at 18 per cent to 20 per cent if the grain is to be dried. Higher kernel moisture content may lead to storage problems. For malting barley, combining and handling below 13.5 per cent may cause peeling. Natural air drying systems can be used to allow harvesting by straight combining or picking up swaths to begin at 16 per cent moisture. Threshing malting or seed barley at a moisture content greater than 16 per cent, then aerating, has led to disappointing results due to germination loss during storage.

 

Storage

Malting barley at 13.5 per cent moisture is desirable. Over 14.0 per cent moisture does not store well and the quality and germination capacity may deteriorate. Ideal storage conditions can be maintained by means of natural aeration or frequent turning of the grain in the bin.

 

Feed barley should be stored at 14.5 per cent or less kernel moisture.