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.
Search the categories below:
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.
Soil Testing in Dry Years: Why It Is Even More Important
Soil testing in dry conditions can reveal leftover nutrients, prevent input waste, and improve crop planning. Learn why a fall soil test still matters—even in a dry year.
Download the 2023 Saskatchewan Seed Survey Results
This survey provides a record of seed-borne pathogen trends in pulse and cereal crops and allows for continued tracking of diseases over time.
The Science Behind Variety Performance Data from Christiane Catellier, IHARF
Christiane Catellier of IHARF answers this question on varietal performance at the BarleyBin Live in Shaunavon, SK
“We sometimes hear of barley varieties that outperform the expectations we have from the seed guide – what is behind that?”
How Seed Treatments Improve Plant Health
Learn how seed treatments help barley and other crops handle stress from variable seeding conditions in Saskatchewan. Discover research-backed benefits for plant health, vigour, and disease protection each spring.
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:
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.
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.
