Malt Barley

[Hopalong]

With forecast for rain free week, is it a better gamble to swath barley with some green in it or wait to straight cut or swath right ahead of combine?
Estimate it will take up to two weeks to wait to straight cut, should have it off by end of this week if no rain and swathed.

[SASKFARMER3]

If the for cast holds swath and go in three

[Braveheart]

We are swathing ours. Rain forecast for next weekend and we'd like to get it in the bin. Also, ours is 6 row and a wind would shatter a lot of heads.

For the most part seeds are less than 30% moisture but some straw is green.

[vvalk]

If your 2 weeks from straight then your longer then 3 after swathing. With 30 deg weather any small shower that pops up with wreck any barley in a swath. If this was sept maybe. Always a gamble. going to lose plump if it's 2 weeks away yet if you swath

[farmaholic]

Ask CN/CP what they want.

Sorry I didn't contribute anything constructive to the topic.

It's a gamble no matter what you do. Hindsight will let you know if you made the right decision.

[crusher]

The sooner its off, the sooner you can show it to selectors. Pretty hard to believe the forecast. Find one you like and go with it.

[wmoebis]

2 ways to get malt. 1- grow good quality malt. 2-owe grain company enough money they will select it no matter of quality.

[riders2010]

Fair bit of standing barley and wheat already sprouted. So get it off ASAP.

[vvalk]

Sprouted standing? Can you imagine if it was in a swath

[riders2010]

Yes it was surprising but then again maybe not two day rains every second or third day and I think were up to somewhere 14 inches in last 15 to 20 days.

[tweety]

Hopalong, do you have a dryer? If yes, then swath, harvest tough, dry, bin. Cash malt cheque.

[bucket]

Tweety

Wouldn't it be better to sell that barley for seed for 10 bucks a bushel because barley acres will be up next year with the returns some are seeing?

Just seems to be the way it goes.

[Integrity_Farmer]

Bucket
Sell for seed? Have you heard about plant breeders rights.

[Hopalong]

Tweety, yes we have an older propane fired dryer but have not used it for several years.
Full floor aeration, mechanical unloading and hopper bottoms have taken over.
As well, propane cannot compete with elevator drying with natural gas.
Intend to take grain off starting at nineteen per cent moisture. Sometimes have good opportunity to blend down.
Do not begrudge elevator company profits, only have to think back to back breaking labour and lack of ability to deal with a wet harvest in the good old days.

[farmaholic]

Someone with experience drying "malt" barley with a grain dryer better chime in. Reduced heat to protect germ....I have no experience with it.

Will you really ger considered cept 19 moisture barley. They seem to have a hissy fit if its a bit tough and say germination can be affected at not much above whats considered dry for long term storage. Good luck. Lots of time for aeration to do its work...its early.