First crop of new feed barley brings in bumper yield

The first seed crops of new feed barley, Retriever have been harvested with the results suggesting a very promising future for the variety.

Nicholas Crane of Hall Farm, Upton in Norfolk grew a 11.58 hectare seed crop of Retriever, drilled mid-October on medium-loam land after sugar beet, yielding 10.47mt over a public weighbridge.

“I only put on 120N to be cautious as it was a new variety but there was absolutely no problem with lodging, and given the low nitrogen I am extremely pleased with the yield. And being BYMV resistant certainly gives it an advantage.”

Mark Glew, barley breeder with Nickerson who market Retriever, says Mr Crane was spot on with his treatment of the variety. “At this stage in a variety’s development reduced nitrogen application is the right thing do until full management information has been produced.

“As Retriever did so well on minimal nitrogen it bodes very well for its future performance, and any input savings will of course be welcome to growers in view of the current N prices.”