cropping decisions 2008

[ado089]

If you're growing Harrington and Duke you're ten years behind. A good option when feed prices are strong is Copeland, it yields good, wheighs good and stands up nice. Treat it like a feed crop for fert(if you can afford it) if it makes malt that's gravy, if not you're not out any bushels at the end of the day in a feed market. If you're in the parkland region of Alberta you might be able to find a six row called lacey, it will yield even better and has malt options as well. As for tag-team or anything like that, you have to remember that those are microbes that extract the phos from the soil, those microbes can't over winter so if you don't get a crop the year you use it for any reason you will never recoup those cost where as with phosphate fert it will always be there next year. I'm not saying it's a bad product but it's some food for though.

[Ron]

Yup, its been about 10 years since I grew barley. I though maltsters were very fussy about which variety they accepted? Or are they more flexible now? Specs mean as much as the variety? Does high fert mean high protein lowering acceptance?
Thanks

Screw the CWB

[ado089]

Specs are still very important...If you do some digging now there are a few contracts out there that focus more on the variety than the specs and others on traceabiity and record keeping. Weather has as much to do with protein as fert, that's why I would recomend still chasing yield, espiecialy with high feed prices but with the right varieties you can have options. If the CWB gets the hell out of our way you may even see substantial premiums on these contracts to go along with preffered acceptance.

[just_wondering]

Specs are vary variable on malt. Depending on supply and how strong the local feed prices are relitive to the PRO.
We sold alot of Copeland off the combine for feed in late august because it was high protein 14 and light. Turns out this year it might have made it as malt.

I think it was WD9 who said re: malt
Once the best is gone, the best is left

Also if you belive ritz it will be a continental Barley market by Jan and open market by Aug.
That is IF you believe Ritz?

[shamus]

I grew Copeland 2 years in a row. Got stuck in the boot both times,yielding alot less than other variety. Piece of crap!!!!

[ado089]

That can be a problem with a late application of phenoxy, it may also indicate a micro deffieciency, magnesium I think, possibly zinc. Regardless it's usualy due to pH or recent manure application.