hybrid winter barley

[ianben]

Hi charlie

Hybrid barley has been available here for about 5years Boost was first variety came with a chemical package originally but I think they have given that up and you now just buy the seed.

Conventional varieties have now caught up to Boost in yeild but two more varieties Volume and Bronx head our recomended list.

Never grown any myself as we grow for malting and hybrids to date are feed

This link should take you to our recomended list which might be of interest http://www.hgca.com/document.aspx?fn=load&media_id=4840&publicationId= 362

[charliep]

Thanks ianben

One more question.

How is plant breeding funded in England? Through public (government and university)? Through a levy on seed?

Are farmers forced to use certified/breeders seed or can they use their own seed (we call brown bag or common seed here)? Realize you don't grow but have you heard the seed cost for hybrid varieties?

[hobbyfrmr]

Ianben, when you say hybrid barley, is this GMO hybrid barley like the canola varieties in Canada?

[ianben]

All seed breed since a date sometime in the eighties I think carries a royalty here. No-one can sell seed without collecting this royalty.

We can plant seed from our own crops but still have to pay royalty, slightly less/tonne I think. No farmer to farmer trade though. Seed cleaners also responsible for collecting royalty so unless you willing to plant untreated seed and lie on the form we must complete pretty hard to dodge.

The royalty is set price and has gone up every year ie old variities have lower royalty than new.

Covers all crops I think not sure on grass though.

Will get back on price with some real figures.

Hybrids not gmo just fancy breeding of conventional varieties I think they stop self fertilization and have separate male and female plants.

We have more hybrids in canola and more uptake but still conventional varieties soon catch up on yeild .

Try this link to Canola varieties
http://www.hgca.com/document.aspx?fn=load&media_id=4844&publicationId= 489


HGCA home grown cereals authority is funded by a levy on every tonne cereals we sell 40p on cereals and £1.20 on canola

[ianben]

All seed breed since a date sometime in the eighties I think carries a royalty here. No-one can sell seed without collecting this royalty.

We can plant seed from our own crops but still have to pay royalty, slightly less/tonne I think. No farmer to farmer trade though. Seed cleaners also responsible for collecting royalty so unless you willing to plant untreated seed and lie on the form we must complete pretty hard to dodge.

The royalty is set price and has gone up every year ie old variities have lower royalty than new.

Covers all crops I think not sure on grass though.

Will get back on price with some real figures.

Hybrids not gmo just fancy breeding of conventional varieties I think they stop self fertilization and have separate male and female plants.

We have more hybrids in canola and more uptake but still conventional varieties soon catch up on yeild .

Try this link to Canola varieties
http://www.hgca.com/document.aspx?fn=load&media_id=4844&publicationId= 489


HGCA home grown cereals authority is funded by a levy on every tonne cereals we sell 40p on cereals and £1.20 on canola

[ianben]

Link to prices for farm saved seed

http://www.bspb.co.uk/fssd/paymentrates_combinable.html

[charliep]

Thanks for the help. Looking at alternatives for
western Canada.

[ianben]

Had a chat with seed rep today

This fall hybrid seed was sold in 5 hectare packs and cost £34/acre.
Our malt seed cost about £17/acre.

He said the breeders had had issues with ergot and had a very limited quantities for 2010 crop.

He also said growers who grew it for 09
harvest did get more yeild but may only just have covered the extra growing costs.

Hope this is of help.

Ian

[charliep]

It is. Thanks again.