Spring Six-rowed Feed Barley
Brigham
A feed barley released by Utah AES, USDA-ARS
in 1999. Brigham
is a very high yielding variety under irrigation and does well on dryland except for
severely stressed conditions.
Test weight is lower than most other 6-row varieties. Brigham is average in
height and has good straw strength. Percent plump is
average for 6-row varieties.
Century
A feed variety released by Utah AES, USDA-ARS in 1996. Century is very similar to
Statehood but has a more lax head type. Century is slightly taller than Statehood and a
bit earlier and has equally good straw strength. Yields have been good under both
irrigated and dryland conditions.
Colter
A white-kerneled, smooth-awned variety released by Idaho AES, USDA-ARS in 1991. Colter has
some promising malting qualities, but is currently classified as a feed barley. Colter is
similar to Steptoe in height and slightly shorter than Morex. Yields were equal to those
of Steptoe and 122 percent of those of Morex in irrigated tests in 1989 and 1990. Dryland
tests indicate yields of Colter and Steptoe are about the same. Protein content tends to
be lower than those of most other six-rowed varieties. Test weight averages 1 pound per
bushel heavier than that of Steptoe and heading date is 1 day later. Percentage plump seed
is less than that of Steptoe.
Gustoe
Short, blue kerneled, and rough awned variety released by Western Plant Breeders in
1982. It is the shortest well-adapted six-rowed cultivar to be widely tested in southern
Idaho. Straw strength is superior to that of Steptoe. It heads 4 days later than Steptoe.
Yields under irrigation have been about equal to those of Steptoe except in shorter
growing season areas of eastern Idaho, where Steptoe is higher yielding. Test weight at
nine locations in 1989 averaged 45.6 pounds per bushel for Gustoe and 46.3 pounds per
bushel for Steptoe. Percentage protein is higher than that of Steptoe and lower than that
of Columbia.
Millennium
A feed barley released by Utah AES, USDA-ARS
in 1999. Millenium
is a very high yielding variety under both irrigated and dryland conditions. It has been higher in
yield than Brigham especially under dryland conditions. Millenium is early,
average height and has very good straw strength. Percent plump is less
than average for 6-row varieties.
Mucho
Mucho was released by Arizona Plant Breeders and is distributed in Idaho by Simplot
Agrisource, Inc. Mucho is very short, very early and generally has not yielded as well as
Steptoe. Test weight is similar to many six-rowed varieties. Straw strength is good. Mucho
will most likely be grown in areas that are prone to severe lodging or where a very early
variety is needed.
Nebula
Nebula was released by Western Plant Breeders in 1995. Under irrigation, Nebula has better
yield than Colter and Steptoe and is shorter. Heading date is later than Steptoe and straw
strength is better. Nebula does not perform well under limited moisture conditions, thus
it should be produced only under irrigation or high rainfall conditions.
Rollo
Rollo is a white-kerneled, semismooth-awned feed variety released by Utah AES, USDA-ARS in
1991. In 19 locations of the Western Spring Barley Nursery in 1989, Rollo had the highest
yield, averaging 102 percent that of Steptoe. Test weight (48.1 bushels per acre), plant
height (29 inches), and lodging (15 percent) were equal to those of Steptoe. Rollo headed
5 days later than Steptoe and had 9 percent less plump seed. 1990 southern Idaho trials
suggest Rollo should not be grown under irrigation due to its weak straw.
Sprinter (facultative)
A blue-kerneled, semismooth-awned feed variety released by Western Plant Breeders in 1987.
Sprinter is a facultative variety adapted for planting either in fall or
spring. In nine southwestern Idaho spring-planted trials, Sprinter averaged 93 bushels per
acre, which was 88 percent that of Steptoe and 82 percent that of Gustoe. Test weight was
48.5 pounds per bushel compared with 48.1 for Steptoe and 47.5 for Gustoe. Sprinter was
similar in height to Steptoe. Lodging was 38 percent compared with 72 percent for Steptoe
and 59 percent for Gustoe. Maturity is later than most other varieties.
Statehood
A feed variety released by Utah AES, USDA-ARS in 1996. Statehood has yield similar to
Steptoe under irrigation but less under dryland. Test weight is slightly lower than
Steptoe and height is similar. Statehood and Steptoe have similar heading dates and
Statehood has considerably better straw strength.
Steptoe
This high-yielding, white-kerneled, rough-awned feed variety was released by Washington
AES, USDA-ARS in 1973. Steptoe has very wide adaptation. One of the highest yielding
varieties, it has been the most popular six-rowed feed variety in Idaho for the past
several years. Plump seed percentage is generally higher than that of any other six-rowed
variety, and protein content is lower than those of many varieties. Steptoe also has lower
feed value than many other varieties. When grown under dryland conditions, test weight
tends to be 1 to 2 pounds per bushel less than those of Morex and Russell.
Sunstar Bravo
A feed variety released by Sunderman Breeding. Yield has been under both irrigated and
dryland production. Test weight is higher, height is taller, and straw strength is
stronger than Steptoe.
Sunstar Double (facultative)
A feed variety released by Sunderman Breeding. Sunstar Double is a facultative variety
adapted for planting either in fall or spring. As a spring seeded variety, Sunstar Double
has yielded less than Steptoe and Colter but has a higher test weight than Steptoe.
Sunstar Double is shorter than most spring 6-rowed varieties and has very good resistance
to lodging.
Sunstar Prince
A feed barley released by Sunderman Breeding in 1995. Yield has been equal to or higher
than Steptoe under irrigation but slightly less on dryland. Test weight has been slightly
lower than Steptoe, height is shorter and straw strength is better, plump seed is about
equal to Steptoe.
Tango
Tango was released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1998. Tango is a derivitive of Steptoe but
with resistance to barley stripe rust. Compared to Steptoe, Tango has slightly less yield,
better test weight, earlier heading date, better straw strength, and greater plant height.
It likely will be used only in places where stripe rust is a major production constraint.
Walker
A white-kerneled, rough-awned feed variety released by Utah AES, USDA-ARS in 1991.
Irrigated trials in southern Idaho in 1990 showed Walker superior to Rollo in yield, test
weight, straw strength, and plump seed. Walker had lower yield than Steptoe, equal test
weight, and less lodging. Walker was 2 inches taller than Steptoe and headed 2 days later.
Westbred 501
A short, white-kerneled, semismooth-awned feed variety released by Western Plant Breeders
in 1982. Westbred 501 looks similar to Gustoe and has the same height and heading date.
Westbred 501 has stronger straw than Gustoe, higher test weight, and higher percentage
protein. Yield tends to be 10 percent lower than that of Gustoe. Westbred 501 is best
adapted to high-yield irrigated production. It is poorly adapted to dryland production.
Last updated 1/24/00