B1202 Still Leads All Barley Varieties But Moravian 69 A Strong Second

B1202 continued to reign as the favorite barley variety planted in Wyoming in 2005 but Moravian 69 was a strong second choice. B1202 topped the State for the fourteenth consecutive year with an estimated 23,500 acres in 2005. This variety accounted for 43 percent of malting variety seedings and 29 percent of Wyoming's total barley acreage. In 2004, 34 percent of the total barley acreage or 30,800 acres was seeded with B1202. Moravian 69 was the second most popular variety with 16,100 acres seeded, accounting for 30 percent of the malting barley and 20 percent of the State's total barley acres. Moravian 69 replaced Moravian 37 in the Big Horn Basin. Maravian 37 was the second most popular variety in 2004. A feed barley variety was again among the top three varieties. Haybet was the third most common barley variety in Wyoming during 2005 with 9,800 acres planted. Haybet was estimated to comprise 38 percent of the feed barley acreage and 12 percent of the total barley acreage.

Wyoming barley producers planted an estimated 80,000 acres to all barley varieties in 2005, down 10,000 acres from 2004. The Northwest District had 58 percent of the barley acreage in 2005, compared with 61 percent last year.

Malting varieties accounted for 54,200 acres or 68 percent of the total. Both malt barley companies in the Big Horn Basin cut acreage from 2004.

Acreage planted to feed barley totaled 25,800 acres, 32 percent of Wyoming's total barley acreage. Baronesse was the second most common feed barley in 2005, accounting for 5,100 acres or 20 percent of the total feed barley.

The Barley Variety Survey was conducted throughout the month of June by the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS via phone and mail. The American Malting Barley Association, Inc. provided the funding for this survey. We thank the Wyoming producers who voluntarily provided information that led to these estimates.