VIRGINIA
Winter Barley Production and Research in 2004
J.J. Paling, W.S. Brooks, M.E. Vaughn, C.A. Griffey, W.E Thomason, T.H. Pridgen, and E.G. Rucker
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Growing Conditions
Planting conditions in the fall of 2003 were mostly favorable with warm temperatures during October and early November. Winter temperatures and precipitation were slightly below normal for the state. Many producers, especially in eastern and southern Virginia, were concerned about the impact of the low temperatures and inadequate moisture on crop development. Cool temperatures continued through March and into April. Weather in late April was warm and dry and temperatures toward harvest were warmer than usual. Temperatures exceeded 85oF on 19 days during May at the Eastern Virginia AREC, Warsaw VA. These hot dry conditions resulted in Barley harvest occurring earlier than usual.
Leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) and net blotch (Pyrenophora teres) were the most serious diseases noted in the state tests in 2004. Both diseases were rated or assessed in all of the barley tests grown at the Kentland Farm near Blacksburg, VA. Leaf rust severity ranged from low to high in the barley lines and cultivars. Net Blotch incidence was moderate to severe. Incidence of powdery mildew [Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei (syn. Blumeria graminis)] in 2004 was low.
Virginia Producers harvested 40,000 acres (16,330 ha), about 80 percent of the estimated 50,000 acres planted in the commonwealth in 2004. Harvested acres were 10 percent lower and number of acres planted was about 30 percent lower in 2004 than in 2003, respectively. The average state yield in 2004 was 74 bu/a (3980 kg/ha), 12 bu/a (645 kg/ha) higher than the very low 62 bu/a (3330 kg/ha) in 2003. A total of 2.96 million bushels (64,400 metric tons) were harvested in the commonwealth in 2004.
State Variety Tests
A total of 42 barley entries were evaluated in Virginia’s Official Variety Test at three locations in the commonwealth in 2004. Twenty-two hulled and 20 hulless entries were tested. There were six released varieties and 16 experimental lines of hulled Barley in 2004. Among the hulless Barley entries, two released cultivars and 18 experimental lines were tested. Average yields of hulled lines over the three locations ranged from 82 to 129 bu/a (4410 to 6930 kg/ha) with test weights from 44.0 to 49.7 lb/bu (570 to 640 kg/m3). Yields of the six released cultivars, respectively, were: ‘Thoroughbred’ - 129 bu/a (6930 kg/ha), ‘Callao’ - 122 bu/a (6560 kg/ha), ‘Price’ - 112 bu/a (6020 kg/ha), ‘Nomini’ - 111 bu/a (5970 kg,ha), ‘Wysor’ - 103 bu/a (5540 kg/ha), and ‘Barsoy’ - 82 bu/a (4410 kg/ha). Test weights of the released cultivars ranged from 45.1 to 49.0 lbs/bu (580 to 630 kg/m3). Yields of the experimental hulled entries ranged from 92 to 125 bu/a (4950 to 6720 kg/ha). Average yield among hulless entries ranged from 52 bu/a(3260 kg/ha) to 81 bu/a(5080 kg/ha) across the three locations. Test weights among the hulless barley lines ranged from 52.8 lbs/bu (680 kg/m3) to 56.5 lbs/bu (730 kg/m3). The statewide average test weight of hulless entries was 55.0 lbs/bu (710 kg/m3). Average yield of ‘Doyce’, a recently released hulless barley variety from Virginia, was 81 bu/a (5080 kg/ha), highest of the hulless entries. Three experimental Virginia lines yielded slightly lower, but similar to Doyce in 2004.
Richard Sanford of Westmoreland County and David Taliaferro of Middlesex County each participated in the Virginia Barley Yield Contest in 2004. Both producers grew certified seed treated with a fungicide. Richard produced 125 bu/a (6720 kg/ha) of Price barley with minimum tillage after a previous corn crop. David produced 134 bu/a (7200 kg/ha) of Callao under no-till after corn. Congratulations to Richard and David for growing excellent barley crops.
Prior to the early 1990’s winter barley cultivars available and grown in the U. S. Mid Atlantic Region were traditional hulled feed barley types. Traditional hulled barley has been grown for centuries in the Mid-Atlantic Region on many farms as feed for all classes of livestock. Demand for high energy, low fiber grain by the vertically integrated swine and poultry industries, and availability of brewer’s distilled grains for the beef and dairy industries have resulted in greatly reduced demand for traditional barley. In the mid 1990’s, the Virginia Tech Breeding Program realized that survival of winter barley as a viable crop was dependent on development of commercially acceptable winter hulless barley cultivars having high value traits for specific end uses. During the past 10 years, the Virginia Tech barley breeding program has developed hulless lines that yield 314 -1129 kg/ha higher than initial winter hulless lines developed. Many of these lines have improved straw strength and grain plumpness and have higher resistance to prevalent diseases. Meanwhile, increased interest in the use of hulless barley varieties having high energy and digestibility in manufacturing food and fuel products, as well as feed, has accentuated our desire to develop winter hulless barley varieties having greater marketability in both domestic and foreign markets. Additionally, barley grain contains health-related compounds similar to those found in oats, therefore, adding to its appeal in the health-food sector. The use of barley in ethanol production may soon become a reality and will provide a viable market for hulless barley produced in the Mid-Atlantic region. From the outset, the breeding program was based on crosses made between adapted hulled winter barley lines/cultivars with hulless lines of diverse origin. We also have collaborated with nutritionists and chemists to identify and improve the nutritional and chemical quality of hulless barley for specific end uses. The breeding program’s first major achievement was the release of ‘Doyce’ winter hulless barley variety in 2003. In collaboration with the USDA-ARS Eastern Regional Research Center, data on chemical and nutritional composition, including protein, starch, lipid and beta glucan concentrations, have been obtained on most barley lines in our replicated yield trials. To date, significant progress has been made in the development of winter hulless barley lines. We have developed more than 3,000 winter hulless barley populations. This year (2005), we will advance over 350 hulless populations and evaluate 325 pure lines in yield tests and select pure lines among nearly 9,000 hulless headrows. Over one hundred advanced winter hulless barley lines are being evaluated in four states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Delaware). Doyce hulless barley being produced commercially in 2005 will be evaluated in pilot studies for its potential use in ethanol production and as an improved feed component in poultry rations. A separate category for hulless barley in the Virginia Barley Yield Contest has been added for the 2004-05 crop year. The awards are sponsored by the Virginia Crop Improvement Association with the goal of increasing awareness of hulless barley among producers. Our efforts will continue toward the development of hulless barley varieties for specific end-use markets benefiting producers in the Mid-Atlantic Region.