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Winter Barley

Hordeum vulgare

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General Description

In 2007, 52,600 hectares of winter barley was grown in Scotland. With an average yield of 7.31 tonnes/hectare, Scottish production was 384,500 tonnes. Source of statistics: The Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture 2008

There is some demand for winter malting barley but, in practice, only a small proportion of the Scottish crop meets the grain nitrogen and other specifications. The Malting Barley Committee will grant (IOB) Approval to winter barley grown in Scotland; Pearl is the only currently Approved variety. Winter barley malt is seldom used in distilling.

Winter barley is predominantly for feed and it also makes a useful crop in a rotation with winter oilseed rape.  The majority of varieties are two row feed, but there are also 6 row feed vaieties available, including Colossus, the first hybrid barley to be added to the HGCA Recommended List.

Crop Development

Crop development is measured on a decimal Zadocks scale. 

Decimal code Description Approximate date
0-9 Dry seed Sowing
10-19 Seedling growth September
20-29 Tillering October - February
30 Stem elongation (ear at 1 cm) Mid March
31 1st node detectable Early to mid April
32 2nd node detectable Mid to late April
33 3rd node detectable Early May
37 Flag leaf just visible Early to Mid May
39 Flag leaf fully emerged Mid May
41-49 Booting Mid to late May
51-59 Ear emergence Late May
60-69 Flowering Late May -early June
71 Watery ripe Early June
73 Early milk Mid June
75 Medium milk Late June
77 Late milk Early July
83 Early dough Early July
85 Soft dough Mid July
87 Hard dough LateJuly
90 Ripening Late July

 

Crop Diary

Use these links to see issues affecting the crop during the year

March

Watch for early Rhynchosporium

Rhynchosporium can develop rapidly in the early spring. Ongoing SAC research suggests seed borne infection is more important than was originally thought. More..

April

Stem Extension Fungicide Treatment Is key For Winter Barley

The stem extension (GS31-32) fungicide treatment is a key fungicide timing in winter barley. More..

May

Fungicides at boot stage

Crops grow rapidly in May and the next key timing for fungicide treatment is awns peeping to early head emergence. More..

June

Too late now for further disease treatments

Once winter barley is in flower, there are fewer options to manage disease. More..

July

Look out for ergot

Look for black fungal bodies of ergot in the standing crop and also harvested grain. More..

Time to think about seed treatments

Seed treatments play an important role in ensuring a good start for a crop. More..

August

Check seed for germination and seedborne diseases

Test seed for seedborne diseases and germination. More..

September

Risk of BYDV this autumn

The warmer weather will increase the risk of aphids. Cereal crops sown or to be sown shortly are at risk from aphids and the BYDV that they could be carrying. More..

October

Check crops for high levels of net blotch or powdery mildew this autumn.

Most barley crops should withstand disease going into the winter. Crops most at risk will be backward with high disease levels. More..

December

Will This Winter Be A Snow Rot Year?

Snow rot in barley has been rare in recent years but the promise of a hard winter from the weather forecasters may change that. More..

Seed

Start with healthy clean seed.  At the very least, test seed for germination.

Key seed borne diseases you also need to check for ar loose smut (Ustilago nuda) and leaf stripe (Pyrenophora graminea).

Harvest

Look out for ergot in grains

Storage

How to store grain - SQC storage and HGCA advice.

Diseases, Pests and Weeds Affecting Winter Barley

Ergot

Ergots are fungal resting bodies which contain toxic alkaloids; they are very poisonous to both humans and livestock. Ergots are purplish black in colour, and a similar size to grain, but smaller pieces of ergot may also be present. More...

Barley Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is one of the major diseases affecting barley. There are currently many spring barley varieties which show good varietal resistance, but the popular malting barley variety Optic is very susceptible to this disease. With so much of the spring barley area using this variety, it has led to an increase in this disease in recent years. More...

Ramularia

Ramularia leaf spot and abiotic leaf spots (also known as Physiological Leaf Spots PLS) can cause extensive damage to the upper leaves in spring and winter barley once crops are past the flowering stage of growth. This can cause extensive losses in yield and quality. More...

Rhynchosporium

Rhynchosporium is the most damaging disease in barley in the wetter areas of the UK. It can attack both winter and spring varieties. More...

Net Blotch

Net blotch is an important seed and trash borne disease in barley. More...

Loose Smut

Loose smut is a seed borne disease which affects winter and spring barley. More...

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus can affect a wide range of cereals and grasses and is spread through aphids More...

Barley Leaf Stripe

Barley leaf stripe is a seed borne disease which is currently rare More...

Contact

Dr Simon Oxley
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4094
MobileWork 07803 222346
Fax 0131 535 4144

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