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OCTOBER 7, 2013
Features NEW VARIETIES
Barley bred in Alberta The first malting barley bred by the Alberta government was released to farmers in 2013 BY REBECA KUROPATWA
B
entley barley, a variety bred for its malting properties, was introduced into the marketplace this year after Canada Malting contracted 30,000 tons of it to Alberta and Saskatchewan farmers. This is the first malt barley bred by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD) to be commercially contracted for malt. Dr. Patricia Juskiw, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development barley breeder with the Field Crop Development Centre at Lacombe, Alta., is originally from Manitoba.
While in Manitoba, she worked with Dr Metcalfe at the Winnipeg Research Station, spurring her love of working with barley. Juskiw then took a job in Alberta, working in agronomy, before returning to her passion of working with barley and becoming a barely breeder.
BENTLEY BARLEY Bentley barley is a two-row, hulled, malting barely, first registered in 2008. It consists of a combination of high grain yield and high biomass. “When looking at it in our trials,
we saw it was a variety that always maintained its preset plump,” said Juskiw. “Back then, in 2003-04, we had drought years. And, for the brewing industry, the seed plump is really important.” This was one of the main reasons the researchers decided to continue advancing the variety in their trials. “Going back the to the predecessor variety, Harrington, plumpness was one of its greatest traits,” said Juskiw. “Even in drought years, Harrington was able to maintain its preset plump, although it didn’t have great yields. The other competing
This barley was grown in Wawaneesa, Man. Juskiw believes Benltey will be a good fit for farmers across the Prairies. predecessor was AC Metcalfe which had better yields but sometimes lacked plumpness.” Bentley was found to have five to 10 per cent higher yield than AC Metcalfe (which has
five to 10 per cent higher yield than Harrington). Juskiw and team maintained Bentley’s preset plumps and knew this was a great replacement for Harrington. Other Bentley benefits are
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*Source: 2012 Field-Scale Canola Performance Trials Always follow grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Details of these requirements can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2013 Monsanto Canada, Inc.