Adding barley to cropping systems in western Wisconsin
by Jerry Clark, Agriculture Educator, Crops & Soils (Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire Counties, Wisconsin) Malted grains, principally barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), are essential raw materials for brewing. Demand is increasing for more sustainable crop production practices and locally grown brewing ingredients in western Wisconsin. Increasingly intensive weather systems make it important to identify new production zones and cropping systems for barley. Sustainable barley management, when added to an existing cropping system rotation such as corn, soybean, and alfalfa, can provide an alternative crop in western Wisconsin. Barley supporting nitrogen reduction Many counties in western Wisconsin are dealing with high-nitrate levels in groundwater. Our research is discovering how barley can be added to a cropping system to reduce those levels. Introduction of winter barley to western Wisconsin farmers has brought the potential to add a multiuse crop into their cropping system. Farmers have indicated they favored the lower input costs of winter barley compared to corn and soybeans and are focusing on maximizing return per acre. Winter barley and spring barley’s response to lower nitrogen needs aligns with efforts to lower applied nitrogen rates across the landscape, helping address local high nitrate groundwater issues. Our research in western Wisconsin counties has indicated a range of nitrogen application rates of 0-50 pounds/acre of additional nitrogen for barley following soybeans to optimize yields while maintaining low protein levels necessary to achieve malting quality grain. During lower precipitation years, trials with no nitrogen applied resulted in statistically similar yields as applications of 60 pounds/acre. This research has farmers interested in adding barley to their cropping system to lower input costs. Barley supporting on-farm profitability Winter barley variety research trials have farmers interested in double cropping other crops such as early maturity soybeans. A one-year demonstration resulted in a 0.4 maturity soybean variety to yield 18 bushel per acre following winter barley harvest. Current research with winter barley seeks to determine which varieties can be selected for good yield and early maturity to allow for double cropped soybeans or other grain and forage sources. Barley supporting cover crop use Farmers are also interested in how winter barley can contribute to setting the stage for use of longer season legume cover crops prior to corn in the crop rotation. Our current research into the system includes planting winter barley after soybean harvest. Winter barley is harvested in late June/early July followed with a legume cover crop such as red clover or other clover mixes. The legume cover is allowed to grow until the following corn planting season to take advantage of legume nitrogen fixation reducing the need for purchased nitrogen sources for corn production. Our research team in Wisconsin is excited to continue exploring these opportunities for sustainable barley production through our exploration of winter barley. Reducing nitrogen and opening the door for cover crop use supports statewide water quality efforts. Furthermore, farmers are eager to potentially bolster profitability on-farm through double-cropping. If successful, re-establishing barley acreage in Wisconsin could be a tremendous benefit for agriculture and the malting and brewing industries.
.png)
.png)
