Barley Production Resources
From managing FHB and understanding chit, to battling herbicide-resistant weeds and optimizing your natural air drying (NAD) systems, SaskBarley provides resources to make it easier for you to grow quality barley in Saskatchewan.
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Harvest And Storage Management
Malt barley can be harvested at around 16-18 per cent moisture if you’ve got ready access to grain drying equipment. Harvesting damp or tough can keep the malting quality at its highest and reduce the risk of pre-harvest sprouting as we move into the fall when rain and heavy dews are more common…
Watch Now: Discover Best Practices for Barley Harvest
Check out our YouTube playlist for helpful harvest tips for barley combine adjustments and straw and stubble management.
5 Tips for Retaining Moisture in a Dry Year
Moisture conservation between harvest and the next spring could support critical crop growth and development the following year. Here are 5 management tips to help you retain as much moisture as possible in a dry year.
Season 2, Episode 2: Stacking the 2021 Drought Against Historical Droughts – with Dr. Phillip Harder
We connected with Dr. Phillip Harder, hydrologist from Centre for Hydrology, University of Saskatchewan about his twitter thread from this summer, charting precipitation and growing degree days for 2021 over the past several decades. We talk about how 2021 has compared to past droughts, the impact of heat compared with water deficit and what the implications are for next year.
A Quick Checklist for Seeding Malt Barley in Saskatchewan
Get ready for a successful malt barley season! This quick checklist for seeding barley covers variety selection, seeding rates, disease management, and fertility strategies to help Saskatchewan barley farmers boost yield and meet malt quality standards.
Why CDC Austenson Won 2025 Seed of the Year from SeedWorld
CDC Austenson, two-row feed barley was named Seed of the Year for 2025 by SeedWorld. Retired barley breeder, Dr. Brian Rossnagel, formerly of the Crop Development Centre (CDC) in Saskatoon, SK examines why this feed variety has been so popular among Western Canadian farmers.
Unlocking Barley’s Potential: New Varieties and Advances in Plant Breeding
Discover new malt and feed barley varieties and learn about the latest advancements in barley breeding technology from Dr. Aaron Beattie of the Crop Development Centre.
Trends in Barley Varieties for 2025
Mitchell Japp explores the trends in barley variety selection ahead of the 2025/26 growing year. Discover uptake and decline of the top 6 varieties in both the malt and feed barley categories.
Barley Production Resources
From managing FHB and understanding chit, to battling herbicide-resistant weeds and optimizing your natural air drying (NAD) systems, SaskBarley provides resources to make it easier for you to grow quality barley year-after-year.
Search the categories below:
Assessing Risk of Fusarium Head Blight in Barley
Assessing Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) risk in barley requires proactive management before symptoms appear. Learn how to use the new Prairie-wide FHB Risk Maps, launched in May 2024, to complement crop checks and guide decision-making.
Navigating the New FHB Risk Mapping Tool
New FHB risk mapping tool for farmers! Introducing the prairie-wide Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) risk maps, a game-changer in disease management. Learn how to navigate this FHB monitoring tool and how these maps can revolutionize your crop protection plan. Read more…
Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network Introduces Enhanced Quick Disease Reporter Tool for the Prairie Region
To help facilitate awareness of developing plant disease issues on a regional- and prairie-wide basis, the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Geomatics Group have collaborated on the development and deployment of the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network Quick Disease Reporter Tool (PCDMN QDRT).
Chit Happens: Understanding Pre-Harvest Sprouting Challenges and Future Solutions
Untimely rains can lead to pre-harvest sprouting (chit) in barley crops. Learn how to mitigate the risk of chitting and what your options are if it does happen.
What Stubble Means to Moisture Retention According to Dr. Phillip Harder, SWAT Maps
Dr. Phillip Harder of SWAT Maps answers this question at our BarleyBin Live event in Shaunavon, SK: How much difference does an inch or two of stubble make?
Fall Considerations: Wrapping up the Growing Season
At the end of the harvest season there are still decisions to be made that can help set the farm up for success in the following year. In addition to evaluating decisions made throughout the year, we can begin addressing nutrient management, weed risks, insect pressure and more.
Growing Malting Barley? Set Yourself Up for Success
The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) provides tips and insights for malt barley producers to ensure yield and quality.
Delayed Seeding? How to Manage for Better Yields in a Short Growing Season
Delayed seeding of barley on the Prairies? Learn agronomic strategies to preserve yield, manage risk, and make smart crop decisions in a shortened season.
Beyond Austenson: Game Changing New Feed Barley Varieties
Discover farmer funded new feed barley varieties that offer higher yields, better standability and more modern disease packages. Read more…
