Barley Variety Notes & Comments

Steptoe (Wash): 6-row feed. Among the highest yielders on irrigation or dryland. Verylow test weight dryland.Stockford (WestBred, 2005). 2-row hooded hay barley. Height is 2” taller than Hays.Heading is 2 days earlier than Hays. Forage yield is similar to Hays and Haybet. Harvestat soft dough stage. Caution: any cereal grain grown for hay should be tested for nitratelevel prior to cutting.Tradition (Busch Ag, BA6B95-2482): 6-row malt. Stiffer straw than Legacy, goodlodging resistance. Higher yield than Legacy.Valier (MSU 1999): 2-row feed. Lewis/Baroness cross 10% better feed efficiency(rumenal digestibility) and 10% better ADG in cattle. Agronomically superior to Gallatinand Lewis, but less than Baroness. Better head extension out of boot than Baroness. H3860224 (MSU): Released as a germplasm. Slightly higher feed value than Valier.Wanubet (MSU, 1990): Waxy 2-row hulless. The B-glucan line that will most likely beindustrialized. Weak straw and low yield (70% of Hector or Gallatin). Med-late mat. Upto 10% or more of the seed may not thresh free from the hulls.Waxbar, Westbred (WPB): Waxy barley grown under contract in 1994 & 1995 for exportto Japan. Standard height and fairly late to mature. See Merlin.Westford, Westbred (WPB): 6-row hooded hay barley. Maturity considerably later thanHorsford and Whitford, allowing for greater forage production. Seed yield low (similar toHorsford). Hay yields considerably higher than Horsford. Harvest at soft dough stage.Hooded barleys are sometimes vulnerable to ergot, but the amount is slight. Cautionshould be taken to avoid high nitrate levels when using any small grain as a forage. Testforage for nitrate before the crop is harvested.Westbred 501 (WPB): 6-row feed. Very stiff straw (supposedly doesn't lodge). Marketedmainly in Idaho.Xena (WPB bz594-19): baroness/stark cross. 2-row feed. Two inches taller and betterboot emergence than Baroness. Lodging resistance equal to Baroness. Late maturity,similar to Baroness. Better adapted to dryland than Baroness, (higher test wt and plumpthan Baroness on dryland4