Australia
March 1, 2018

The Board of Barley Australia has met to consider the recommendations from the Malting and Brewing Industry Barley Technical Committee (MBIBTC) for the various varieties currently under evaluation.

Litmus (WABAR 2625): This line has been withdrawn by the promoter.

Biere (9516-01): No commercial tonnage of Biere barley from the 2016 crop was available for evaluation. A small tonnage from the 2017 crop is available for Stage 1 evaluation in 2018.

RGT Planet: A small tonnage of RGT Planet barley from Victoria was evaluated in 2017. RGT Planet has successfully completed Stage One evaluation and will now proceed into Stage Two
trials in 2018.

IGB 1305: A reasonable tonnage of IGB 1305 barley from Victoria was evaluated in 2017. IGB 1305 has successfully completed Stage One evaluation and will now proceed into Stage Two trials in 2018.

It is anticipated that there will be sufficient in-specification grain available from the 2017/18 harvest for both RGT Planet and IGB 1305 to carry out Stage Two Trials. They would then be assessed in February 2019 by the MBIBTC and a final recommendation made to Barley Australia at its March 2019 Meeting.

WI 4896: A modest tonnage of WI 4896 barley from the 2017 crop is available for Stage 1 evaluation in 2018.

Alestar (SMBA 11-2341): A small tonnage of Alestar barley from the 2017 crop is available for Stage 1 evaluation in 2018.

Maltstar (SMBA 11-1771): A small tonnage of Maltstar barley is expected to be available for Stage 1 evaluation in 2018, however this is still to be confirmed.

AGTB 0015: This line has been withdrawn by the promoter.

Barley Australia has accepted applications for two new varieties for malting barley evaluation. One variety is from InterGrain in Western Australia, IGB 1705T; and the other is from Secobra Recherches and Seednet in South Australia, Traveler. Trials of these new varieties are anticipated to commence in Stage One in 2019.

Website: http://www.barleyaustralia.com.au

Published: March 1, 2018