Nov. 2, 2023 (Winnipeg, MB) – According to a recent study by the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC), in collaboration with Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), new Canadian malting barley varieties can be grown successfully in Manitoba.

With comparable yields and quality to the check variety, AAC Synergy, new varieties like AAC Connect, CDC Fraser, CDC Copper, CDC Churchill and AAC Prairie are the next generation of high quality malt varieties for producers.

“The study showed that these new varieties offer good agronomics and the high end-use quality traits that are the hallmark of Canadian malting barley,” says Peter Watts, Managing Director at the CMBTC.

In the past, producers in Manitoba struggled with diseases like fusarium head blight in malting barley. Thanks to new varieties that boast improved disease packages, along with better fungicide products and improved management practices, fusarium has not been a significant issue in recent years.

Producers growing malting barley varieties have the option of both malting and feed markets. With a malt barley variety, farmers gain an additional 2.5 million tonne market that they could not access with feed varieties. As well, malt barley generally offers a premium of around $1 per bushel or more.

“Manitoba is one of the best barley producing regions in the world,” says Pam de Rocquigny, CEO of MCA. “This success can be attributed to climate and geography, and our advanced farming practices.”

Barley is a good cereals crop option, as it provides many benefits when included in crop rotations. Barley can be planted early in the growing season and is both competitive and high yielding. Furthermore, including barley in crop rotations can provide flexibility during harvest, as it matures early, allowing harvest to be spread out between crop types. “In combination, these attributes make barley a great option for farmers,” says de Rocquigny.

More details on the study can be viewed here.

A number of companies in Manitoba source malting barley to supply the domestic and international market including CMBTC members Cargill, Richardson, Viterra, Malteurop and Boortmalt, as well as other malting and grain companies in the province.

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For more information:

Peter Watts
Managing Director
CMBTC
Phone: 204-983-1981
Email: pwatts@cmbtc.com

About the CMBTC: 
Founded in 2000, the CMBTC is a national, independent, member-based, non-profit association that combines technical services, market development, support for the Canadian barley value chain, customer relations and advocacy for Canada’s barley industry in a model that maximizes the opportunity to grow Canada’s markets for barley and malt and to create value.

About Manitoba Crop Alliance:
Manitoba Crop Alliance is a non-profit organization established Aug. 1, 2020, representing over 7,700 farmer members. Manitoba Crop Alliance puts their farmer members first and strives to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of all crops represented by the organization by focusing on four main areas: research, agronomy, market access and development, and communications. It is through investment in these key areas that Manitoba Crop Alliance can ensure wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax are sustainable production choices for Manitoba farmers. For more information, visit mbcropalliance.ca.