PINERY farmer Andrew Barr is hopeful Compass barley will gain malt accreditation for next season, after his Commander barley was downgraded from malt to feed.
The challenging finish to the season resulted in Mr Barr’s Commander barley recording protein levels of 12 per cent to 13pc, as well as above limit screenings, causing it to fall outside the required grade specifications.
It’s the reverse of what he experienced last year – sensational yields classified as malt. This season, Mr Barr sowed about 300 hectares of Commander, all of which was graded Feed 1.
He has grown Commander since its pre-release in 2005, but was eager for Compass to gain its malt accreditation when its malting and brewing performance is reviewed in March.
In anticipation, Mr Barr saved some Compass seed for next year.
“I’d prefer to be growing Compass agronomically, we’ve seen its grain fill is exceptional and its yield potential is very good as well,” he said. But as a former breeder, Mr Barr knows each season is different, and challenging seasons like this year would clearly identify which new trialled varieties could withstand Australian conditions.
“Some years are quite soft and tend to disguise varieties that are not hardy enough for our conditions,” he said.
“Last year there were a lot of direct European introductions tested in Australia and they performed very well because our conditions were almost European,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see what happens this year with a tough season, to see if those varieties can hold their own against those bred here in Australia.”
Malt volumes take hit due to late rain
YORKE Peninsula malt barley growers are taking a hit to the pocket following Viterra’s introduction of the falling numbers system and the substantial amount of rain in the past month.
YP independent agronomist Craig Wissell said barley growers were looking at a $40 a tonne to $50/t difference in income when their malt barley was downgraded to feed.
“Viterra have made the right move, because malt quality has to be malt quality,” he said.
“You can’t blame anyone, it’s just the rain we have had.”
The falling numbers system requires malt barley to score 300 or above as a higher quality grain.
Mr Wissell said most YP malt barley was recording a score in the mid to high 200s.
He said farmers were looking at above average yields between 6t a hectare and 8t/ha, with Compass barley yielding the highest, but any grain that was malting last week had gone to feed this week.
Maitland farmer Dean Thomas managed to harvest 1000t of Commander barley, which was delivered as malt barley, prior to the rain.
The remainder of his 283-ha crop was downgraded.
“It’s pretty disappointing because there is a big price differential,” he said.
“The barley was going very well up until the rain.”
Despite the downgrade, Mr Thomas was pleased with the seasons yield.
But Mr Wissell said farmers who were keeping seed for next season were advised to undertake germination tests to ensure seed quality.
“The germination is critical to sow next year,” he said.
“That is something a lot of growers will have to be careful with if they are saving grain after this rain.”
