Results - Montana Barley Varieties

United States Department of Agriculture
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
MOUNTAIN REGIONAL FIELD OFFICE
P.O. Box 150969
Lakewood, CO 80215-0969
800-392-3202

Montana Wheat & Barley
P.O. Box 3024
Great Falls, MT 59403-3024
Phone: 406-761-7732
Email: wbc@mt.gov

MONTANA 2022 BARLEY VARIETIES
HIGHLIGHTS

TOP MALTING VARIETIES

This report provides the results of the barley portion of the
2022 Wheat and Barley Variety Survey, conducted by the
National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional
Office. The survey was funded by the Montana Wheat and
Barley Committee. Access to this report is available for free
or online at www.nass.usda.gov/mt. Thank you to each
person who supplied data and made this report possible.

AC Metcalfe is also the leading malting barley variety in
Montana for 2022, representing 31.1 percent of all acres
seeded, as noted above. It is a two-row malting barley
developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, located in
Brandon, Manitoba. It has an 8 percent higher yield, but
matures one day later than Harrington. It is resistant to loose
smut and is moderately resistant to the spot-form of net blotch,
surface-borne smuts, and common root rot. It has plump
kernels and high test weight, but it is susceptible to scald and
Septoria.

All variety acreage numbers in this publication are based on
survey averages. Survey respondents totaled 2,044 with
1,821 usable reports for both wheat and barley. Usable
positive barley reports totaled 618. At the district level, the
number of reports for minor varieties is generally limited.
Thus, yearly fluctuations in the district variety acreage may
be the result of sample variation.
Total acres of barley seeded in Montana for 2022 are
estimated at 1,090,000, up from 940,000 acres planted in
2021. Montana continues to rank first in barley planted
acreage in the United States with 35.8 percent of the 3.05
million acres planted. Malting varieties account for 68.1
percent of planted acres in Montana. Forage varieties totaled
13.1 percent and feed varieties totaled 10.6 percent.
AC Metcalfe is the leading barley variety in Montana for
2022. AC Metcalfe accounts for 31.1 percent of the
1,090,000 acres of barley planted in 2022. Hockett ranks
second with 15.9 percent of the barley acreage. Haxby ranked
third with 6.8 percent of barley planted. Bill Coors 100
ranked fourth with 5.7 percent of barley planted. Haybet
represents 4.4 percent of the barley planted and ranks fifth.
These top five varieties account for 63.9 percent of the barley
planted in 2022.
Barley Type
As a Percentage of All Barley Planted:
2022
8.2
10.6

Hockett is the second leading malting barley variety in 2022,
planted on 15.9 percent of the total barley acres. Hockett is a
two-rowed dry land variety that was developed by Montana
State University (MSU) in 2008. When compared to
Harrington, Hockett has a higher yield and better malt quality
given dry land conditions. It is susceptible to lodging and
stripe rust.
Bill Coors 100 ranked third among malting barley varieties
seeded for 2022, planted on 5.7 percent of the total acres. Bill
Coors 100 is well suited for irrigation. It has a short straw
length with high yield and early maturity. It is a two-row
variety leaving minimal stubble and residue.
Moravian 165 is the fourth leading malting barley variety
seeded for the 2022 crop year. An estimated 3.4 percent of all
barley is planted to this variety. It is a two-rowed variety bred
by Coors Brewing Company. It is a small-stature, high
yielding variety suited for dryland ground and has a high
malting quality. It originated as a cross between Moravian 119
and CDC Kendall.
Conlon ranked fifth among the malting varieties planted for
2022 and represents 2.8 percent of all barley varieties planted.
Conlon is a two rowed variety with large plump kernels. It
was developed at the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment
Station. It has high test weight, medium straw length, medium
straw strength, and mid-season maturity. It is resistant to net
blotch, the MCC form of stem rust, and powdery mildew.

Malt
Forage
13.1

Feed
68.1

Unknown, Other

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TOP FEED VARIETIES
Montana Top 5 Malting Barley Varieties
Variety
AC Metcalfe
Hockett
Bill Coors 100
Moravian 165
Conlon

Percent of
Acres Planted
31.1
15.9
5.7
3.4
2.8

TOP FORAGE VARIETIES
Haybet is the top forage variety planed by Montana farmers,
accounting for 4.4 percent of the total barley acres seeded in
2022. It was developed cooperatively by the Agricultural
Research Service, USDA, and the Montana Agricultural
Experiment Station in 1989. It is a two-rowed, hooded,
white-kernel spring hay barley. Compared to Horsford hay
barley, Haybet is 3 days later in heading and similar in plant
height and percent lodging. Haybet is higher in hay yield than
Horsford, but they are similar in grain yield.
Lavina is the second most common forage barley variety
planted in 2022, seeded on 4.0 percent of the total barley
acres planted. It is a two-rowed, hooded hay barley
developed by MSU, and is a cross between Haybet and
Baronesse varieties. Lavina was released as a replacement for
Haybet with the attributes of slightly higher forage
production potential and much higher grain production
potential.
Haymaker ranked third among all forage barley acres
planted for 2022, with 1.5 percent of all barley planted to this
variety. Haymaker is a two-row forage barley exhibiting high
yields with excellent feed quality. Because of its height, it is
great for baling and silage.
Bestford ranks fourth among forage varieties at 1.1 percent
of total planted acres in Montana for 2022. Bestford is a 6row beardless variety with standard plant height, excellent
yield potential, and good straw strength. Bestford has a high
leaf to stem ratio which results in better forage.
Stockford ranked fifth among forage barley acres planted,
with 0.2 percent of all barley planted acres. Stockford is a
two-row hooded hay barley. It is medium tall and matures
mid-season. It was developed by WestBred and is adapted to
the intermountain area of the Pacific Northwest and western
areas of Canada.

Haxby is the leading feed barley variety planted in 2022 on
6.8 percent of all barley acreage. Haxby is a two-rowed barley
developed by MSU. Yields are equal to Baronesse and Eslick
and are higher than Gallatin and Valier varieties. It is medium
height and maturity, and has superior performance in low
moisture conditions. Haxby has high test weights in both dry
land and irrigated areas.
Champion is the second leading Montana feed barley variety
in 2022, accounting for 1.1 percent of the 2022 planted barley
acres. Champion was developed by WestBred LLC, Bozeman,
Montana in 1997. It is a cross between Baronesse and Camas.
It is a two-row spring barley that has a semi-erect to
intermediate growth habit. Champion has fair to good
resistance to lodging and shattering. It also shows strengths to
neck breaking and drought.
Baronesse ranked third among feed varieties with 0.5 percent
of all barley acres planted in 2022. It is a two-rowed feed
variety, medium short in height and medium in maturity. It
has a short, strong straw and good lodging resistance. It is
both a dryland and irrigated variety, with higher yield
potential when irrigated or when moisture is favorable.
Montana Top 3 Feed Barley Varieties
Percent of
Acres Planted
6.8
1.1
0.5

Variety
Haxby
Champion
Baronesse

IMPORTANCE OF BARLEY VARIETY TRAITS
Survey respondents were asked to rank barley traits in order of
importance where 5.00 is the highest and 1.00 is the lowest
when choosing a barley variety for 2022. Drought tolerance
was the highest ranked trait of importance with an average of
1.82 points out of 5.00. Other was ranked second with an
average of 1.72 points. Malt quality was ranked third with an
average of 1.68 points. Contract obligations was fourth at 0.99
points. These and all traits asked on the survey are illustrated
in the chart below.
Barley Trait Index Montana: 2022
1.82

DROUGHT TOLERANCE

1.72

OTHER

Montana Top 5 Forage Barley Varieties
Variety
Haybet
Lavina
Haymaker
Bestford
Stockford

Percent of
Acres Planted
4.4
4.0
1.5
1.1
0.2

1.68

MALT QUALITY (PLUMP, WGHT, COLOR)
0.99

CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS
0.77

LODGING RESISTANCE

0.69

LEAF DISEASE RESISTANT
ROOT DISEASE RESISTANCE

0.56

PREHARVEST SPROUTING/FALLING

0.54
0.49

HERBICIDE, PESTICIDE RESISTANCE
0.20

FUSARIUM SCAB TOLERANCE

0.05

ALUMINUM TOLERANCE
0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

PROFITABILITY OF OPERATION
Growers of both barley and wheat were asked about their
expectations concerning the profitability of their operation
over the next twelve months. Farmers who reported the
profitability of their operation would be better off was 17.6
percent. This compares to 20.4 percent last year. No change in
profitability of their operation was expected by 40.0 percent of
famers, compared to 54.5 percent last year. Farmers who
expected their operation would decline stood at 42.5 percent.
Last year farmers who expected their profitability would
decline stood at 25.1 percent. Some farmers indicated drought,
pests, and market conditions affected their answers.
Expected Profitability of Operation
Montana Barley and Wheat Growers:
2021 - 2022
54.5%

60%
50%

LAND TRANSISTIONED OUT OF THE
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM TO
CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCTION
Farmers were asked if they had transitioned land coming out
of the Conservation Reserve Program into certified organic
production at any time. Farmers answering yes to transitioning
land out of CRP to certified organic stood at 3.5 percent. The
remainder, 96.5 percent, had not transitioned any land to
certified organic production.
Farmers who answered yes to transitioning acres from the
Conservation Reserve Program to certified organic were then
asked to report the number of acres they had transitioned. The
total number of acres transitioned to organic among wheat and
barley growers in Montana is estimated to be about 72,000
acres. This is only an estimate of land transitioned among
wheat and barley growers in Montana, and is not
representative of all farmers and ranchers in Montana.

42.5%

40.0%

Land Transitioned out of Conservation
Reserve Program: Montana

40%
30%

25.1%
20.4%

20%

17.6%
100%

96.5%

10%

90%

0%

80%
Improve

Stay the same
2021

Decline

2022

70%
60%
50%
40%

FINANCIAL COMPARISON TO ONE YEAR AGO

30%
20%

Growers of both barley and wheat were asked about the
financial status of their operation compared to the previous
year. Farmers who reported their operation was better off
stood at 14.0 percent, compared to 17.3 percent last year.
Farmers who reported their operation was about the same
came to 50.5 percent, compared to 63.7 percent last year.
Those who said their operation was worse off financially stood
at 35.6 percent. Last year, 19.0 percent said their operation
was worse off financially than in the previous year.
Financial Status of Operation
Compared to One Year Ago
Montana Barley and Wheat Growers:
2021 - 2022
60%

50.5%

No

Yes

FORMER CONSERVATION RESERVE
PROGRAM LAND TO ORGANIC THE FIRST
LAND THAT WAS CERTIFIED
Farmers who transitioned land out of CRP to certified organic
were asked if the land transferred was the first land that was
certified. Farmers who answered yes stood at 69.8 percent.
Farmers who answered no stood at 30.2 percent.
First Land from CRP to Certified Organic:
Montana
100%

50%
35.6%

40%
20%

0%

63.7%

70%

30%

3.5%

10%

90%
80%

17.3%

19.0%

14.0%

69.8%

70%
60%

10%

50%

0%
Better off

About the same
2021

2022

Worse off

40%

30.2%

30%
20%
10%
0%
Yes

No

Barley: Reported Percent Planted by District and Variety, Montana 2022
Variety

District 10
Northwest

District 20
North Central

District 30
Northeast

District 50
Central

District 70
Southwest

District 80
South Central

District 90
Southeast

%
%
%
%
%
%
%
AC Metcalfe
-39.8
-37.8
16.1
--Hockett
-22.6
-8.0
---Haxby
43.7
5.6
-7.0
---Bill Coors 100
-3.2
-3.3
-35.0
-Haybet
-2.6
22.7
1.1
--12.1
Lavina
10.3
2.9
4.9
5.3
1.0
8.3
8.6
Moravian 165
-4.5
---4.2
-Conlon
---10.8
---Haymaker
-0.7
3.3
3.5
-0.3
-Buzz
-2.4
-----AAC Synergy
----12.2
12.7
-Merit 57
-2.2
-----Mayflower
-1.4
-----Bestford
-------Champion
--5.8
----ABI Voyager
-0.5
--10.1
--ABI Eagle
-0.7
-----Baronesse
-0.4
-----Copeland
--1.5
----Stockford
---0.4
3.4
--Conrad
-----2.8
-Horsford
-------Other, Unknown1
46.0
10.5
61.8
22.8
57.2
36.7
79.3
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(--) No data, minor amount reported, or withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1)
Other, Unknown includes Bowman, Harrington, Hector, LCS Genie, LCS Vespa, Legacy, Stark, Other, and Unknown varieties.

State Total
%
31.1
15.9
6.8
5.7
4.4
4.0
3.4
2.8
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.1
1.1
0.9
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.2
0.2
0.2
13.7
100.0