02/28/08 Charles, new two row malt barley

Early last fall a new two row winter malt barley variety was planted in several southern Idaho fields. OBERT "I think there is about a thousand acres. That's Agricultural Research Service grain breeder Don Obert and he's talking about a new malt barley called Charles. OBERT "They're trying to grow it all different regions of Idaho and some in Montana also just looking at the agronomics, the winter hardiness, the yield potential." Obert says about 300 acres of Charles is being grown specifically for brewery evaluation. Obert says there are advantages to Charles over the spring type barley varieties. OBERT "Let's say we typically plant things in the Magic Valley here about March 15th. Well by that time the winter barley which was planted in October has broken dormancy and it's an established plant at that point and I think you decrease the risk of quality problems." Some fields near the ARS station in Aberdeen were planted by September 20th last year while the Magic Valley planting was completed about a week later. Obert says Charles could also do well in the Palouse but he says when you start getting into the higher elevations he believes that this barley variety would not hold up under colder conditions. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott