10/10/07 Charles barley, two row winter malt

Planting in most of southern Idaho of a new two row winter malt barley variety is nearly completed. OBERT "I think there is about a thousand acres. 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." ARS grain breeder Don Obert says about 300 acres of the variety dubbed 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 20 while the Magic Valley plants were in the ground last week. Obert says Charles could also do well in the Palouse but he says with higher elevations the expectations are that this barley variety would not hold up under colder conditions. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott