22 February 2024
Giving this year’s malting barley crop the best start
Malting barley plays an important role on many Irish tillage farms, from where 300,000 tonnes are produced to supply the Irish drinks sector annually. As part of the recent Teagasc/Boortmalt Malting Barley Conference, growers were reminded of the importance of having the correct seeding rate.
Edward Neale, Ballycarney Grain, and Eoin McDonald, Cooladine Farms Ltd – two companies involved in the supply and purchasing of malting barley in Co. Wexford – reminded farmers of the importance of establishing 300 plants/m2, to ensure the presence of 1,000 heads/m2 come harvest.
To achieve the above, the correct weight of seed per hectare should be sown and this can be obtained by completing the following calculation: average thousand grain weight (TGW) multiplied by target plant population per m2 divided by the establishment rate. For instance, at an establishment rate of 85%, a malting barley variety with a TGW of 50 would require a sowing rate of 176kg/ha (50 multiplied by 300 divided by 85 = 176kg/ha), to establish 300 plants/m2.
Given the possibility of some variation between Irish and imported seed this year, Eoin explained: “This equation is probably the most important thing you are going to need this coming season. Thousand grain weights are a little variable between Irish and imported seed. When you are doing your calculation of how many seeds you want to sow, you are just going to have to be mindful of this.”
Eoin McDonald, Cooladine Farms Ltd, and Edward Neale, Ballycarney Grain, joined Teagasc Tillage Advisor Ciaran Hickey in a panel discussion at the Malting Barley Conference
Additionally, he advised malting barley growers to check the TGW of every lot of seed they purchase this spring, as variation in TGWs can result in differences in sowing rate, adding: “For every five point change in thousand grain weight, you’ve a 20kg/ha or 1.2 stone/ac difference in sowing rate,” he explained.
Although much dependent on an uptake in the weather, Edward highlighted the importance of early sowing to maximise yield and nutrient utilisation from spring barley crops, noting that farmers – who haven’t already done so – should complete a Nutrient Management Plan and have fertiliser ready to go on the crop when the time comes. On seeding rates, he said: “Make sure you have calculated your acres right, as there mightn’t be as much seed availability there when it comes into mid-season.”
Also read: Malting barley continues to be in high demand from the Irish drinks industry