Here are the recommended malting barley varieties for 2016

ND Genesis has promise in the spring barley production areas of the eastern United States, where growers producing barley for the craft market have been growing Pinnacle because of its low protein.

The American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) is the ultimate organization when it comes to malting barley. Need proof? Each year, the association provides growers (and you, brewers) with an annual list of malting barley varieties that its members are most interested in for the upcoming growing season. So you know: AMBA is a nonprofit trade association of 82 U.S. malting, brewing and distilling companies that provide funding for the development of new barley varieties and evaluate new selections for their suitably in the United States.

The list of recommended malting barley varieties for the 2016 growing season includes the addition of ND Genesis which was released in January of 2015 by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.

“The improved foliar disease resistance and yield potential of ND Genesis, as compared with Pinnacle, make it a possible replacement for Pinnacle with its addition to the American Malting Barley Association’s list of recommended malting barley varieties,” explained Dr. Richard Horsley, head of the Department of Plant Sciences and barley breeder at North Dakota State University.

ND Genesis seems adapted to all parts of North Dakota and adjacent areas of Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota.

“ND Genesis also has some promise in the spring barley production areas of the eastern U.S., where growers producing barley for the craft market have been growing Pinnacle because of its low protein,” Horsley says.

ND Genesis joins the list along with AAC Synergy and Thoroughbred which were added mid-year to the 2015 recommended list. For 2016, the recommended two-rowed varieties are AAC Synergy, ABI Voyager, AC Metcalfe, CDC Copeland, CDC Meredith, Charles*, Conlon, Conrad, Endeavor*, Expedition, Harrington, Hockett, Merit, Merit 57, Moravian 37, Moravian 69, ND Genesis, Pinnacle, Scarlett, and Wintmalt*. Six-rowed varieties are Celebration, Innovation, Lacey, Legacy, Quest, Stellar-ND, Thoroughbred*, and Tradition.

Malting barley growers are encouraged to contact their local elevator, grain handler or processor to gauge market demand for varieties grown in their region prior to seeding. The development of malting barley varieties at state and federal institutions is supported by funding from AMBA. Lines identified as having superior agronomic and quality traits in state and regional trials are evaluated by AMBA in its Quality Evaluation Program. Thirty-seven lines are being analyzed in pilot scale malting trials. If results are satisfactory, the selections can be advanced to commercial scale malting and brewing trials. Currently there are eleven lines in commercial testing.

A complete listing of recommended varieties and recent U.S. variety planting data can be found on the AMBA website.