Boyer
A rough-awned variety released by Washington AES, USDA-ARS in 1975. Boyer has stiff straw
with good yield potential. It is recommended for areas requiring winter survival. Boyer
has excellent winter-hardiness and lodging resistance. Boyer has a moderate resistance to
diseases.
Charles (94AB1275)
A USDA-ARS release in 2006, the first winter barley in North America approved for malting by
the American Malting Barley Association. Charles,
though a winter genotype requiring vernalization, it lacks winter-hardiness.
It is considerably less productive than other winter barley grown for feed.
Straw strength is poor and it is more prone to lodging than more commonly grown
winter barley.
Eight-Twelve
A rough-awned variety released by Idaho AES, USDA-ARS in 1988. Eight-Twelve has good straw
strength and is best adapted to irrigated areas of Idaho. In trials, it survived well in
the absence of snow. Survival of Eight-Twelve was reduced significantly by Fusarium snow
mold in certain years.
Gwen
A rough-awned, medium height feed variety released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1991. Gwen
has stiff straw, very good test weight, and a moderate resistance to lodging. Gwen was
released for use in low rainfall, shallow soil areas of the Pacific Northwest. Gwen has
excellent winter-hardiness and early maturity.
Hundred
A rough-awned variety released by Washington AES, USDA-ARS in 1989. Hundred is a widely
adapted variety with good straw strength and average test weight. Hundred has a club-type
head. It has good winter-hardiness with moderate resistance to diseases.
Kold
A rough-awned feed barley released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1993. Kold has average test
weight but good straw strength. Kold was the first barley released in the Pacific
Northwest tolerant of barley stripe rust race 24. Kold has similar yield to Sprinter with
test weight less than Sprinter and similar to Eight-Twelve. Height and date head are
similar to Eight-Twelve. Lodging tends to be higher than Eight-Twelve or Sprinter and
better than Schuyler. Kold has fair winterhardiness with moderate resistance to lodging.
It is susceptible to scald and net blotch.
Mal
A feed variety released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1980. Under irrigation in southern
Idaho, it has been high yielding, exceeding most other varieties. Test weight of Mal tends
to be lower than most other varieties. Mal is taller and later in maturity than Scio and
Eight-Twelve and is similar to Boyer. Straw strength is average - good.
Schuyler
A rough-awned variety released by New York AES in 1969. Schuyler has short straw,
excellent winterhardiness, and good test weight. Schuyler is susceptible to lodging.
Scio
A semi-rough awned feed variety released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1981. Scio has very
stiff straw, average test weight, and good lodging resistance. Scio is well adapted to
high rainfall areas. Scio is susceptible to stripe rust and moderately susceptible to spot
blotch and leaf rust.
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. See
description for Sprinter on the Spring Barley
Description page for more information.
Strider
A feed variety released by Oregon AES, USDA-ARS in 1998. Strider has excellent yield
potential, comparable to Sunstar Pride over several years of testing. Test weight is
similar to Eight-Twelve and Boyer. Strider is taller than Eight-Twelve and similar to
Sprinter. Heading date is similar to Eight-Twelve and straw strength is not as good
as Eight-Twelve. Strider is one of the few varieties with resistance to barley stripe
rust.
Sunstar Double (facultative)
A feed barley released by Sunderman Breeding. Sunstar Double is a facultative variety
adapted for planting either in fall or spring. As a winter variety, it has similar yield
to Eight-Twelve with a slightly higher test weight. Straw strength is less than Mal and
better than Schuyler.
Sunstar Pride
A feed variety released by Sunderman Breeding in 1995. Sunstar Pride has a high yield
record, exceeding the next highest yielding variety by 20 bushels/acre. Test weight is
less than Sunstar Double but similar to Schuyler and Boyer. Heading date is 4 and 5 days
later than Eight-Twelve and Schuyler, respectively. Height is similar to Eight-Twelve and
straw strength is better.