Introduction
This report summarizes data from 239 South Dakota barley producers by the USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. We would like to thank all who supplied data, making this report possible. Percents and acreage data are included at both the state and agricultural district levels.

Highlights
Robust remained the most popular barley variety seeded during 2001 in South Dakota. Robust was planted on 49.3 percent of the total acreage, down from 58.7 percent in 2000. This is the 9^th consecutive year that the malting variety, Robust, has been the leading variety. The next four highest varieties are all feed varieties: Logan at 12.5, Stark at 11.0, Bowman at 9.4, and Conlon at 8.6 percent. These top five varieties account for 90.8 percent of the barley planted. This year's planted acreage is estimated at 90,000, down 25,000 acres from last year.

Malting Varieties
Robust, the leading malting variety planted, declined in popularity from last year, to 92.5 percent of the malting variety acreage. The other two leading malting varieties, Foster and Morex, were down slightly from last year, planted on 4.0 percent of the acreage and accounting for 3,600 acres. Malting varieties represented 53.3 percent (48,000 acres) of the state's total acreage. Malting varieties are those recommended by the American Malting Barley Association for malting and brewing in 2001.

Feed Varieties
Logan and Stark were the leading feed varieties planted, for the second consecutive year, followed closely by Bowman and Conlon. These four varieties accounted for 94.2 percent of feed varieties planted, or 37,400 acres. The other leading feed variety, Haybet, accounted for 2,300 acres. Each of the five leading feed varieties were planted on a larger percentage of acres in 2001 than last year.

Supporting funds for the Barley Variety Survey were provided by The American Malting Barley Association, Inc.