USA: Montana�s barley varieties performance trials

In 2005, 900000 of barley were planted in Montana averaging 56 bushels per acre of yield producing a total of 39.2 million bushels. In USA, Montana ranked third in overall production of barley and second in total dollar value of barley. Harrington was the leading variety in Montana with 28.3 % of the acres planted, followed by Haybet on 17.2 %, AC Metcalfe on 8.7 %, B1202 on 5.0 % and B Merit on 5.0 % of total acres, according to a report from Prairiestar. Malting barley varieties were planted on approximately 55 % of the total barley acreage across Montana in 2005.

Baronesse, Calgary, Eslick, Gallatin, Haxby, Valier, WestBred Xena and WestBred Boulder are two row feed barleys while Hays is a two row hooded hay barley. Harrington, Merit and Conlon are two rowed malt barleys while Legacy, Morex and Tradition are six row malt barleys. All of the malt varieties are currently recommended by the American Malt Barley Association for malt production except for Morex.

Calgary is suited for high rainfall and irrigated locations and was not entered in the dryland intrastate. In the 2005 irrigated intrastate nursery, WestBred Xena and Eslick were the highest yielding varieties with 123.0 and 117.1 bu/ac respectively. Under dryland conditions the top three varieties were Haxby, WestBred Boulder, and WestBred Xena yielding 79.2, 79.1 and 76.1 bushels per acre respectively.

Averaged over all dryland locations from 1999 - 2005 WestBred Boulder, Baronesse, Haxby, and Eslick yielded 73.1, 71.8, 71.7, 71.6 bu/a, respectively. Under irrigation from 1999-2005 WestBred Xena (130.2), Eslick (129.1), Calgary (128.1), Baronesse (126.8), Haxby (126.6), and WestBred Boulder (126.6 bu/ac) were the highest yielding varieties.