Skyway spring barley delivers good returns

• Inexpensive to achieve good yields

• Stiff straw and good bushel weight

• Competes strongly with blackgrass

A crop of spring barley that produces a gross margin to rival milling wheat is a desire of most growers. It rarely happens, but the rotational and workload benefits that come with it can make it worth the effort, nonetheless.

Taking a punt on Skyway in 2022 was more than worthwhile for Ian, Michael and Edward Watson of G Watson & Sons, who farm at Furneux Pelham, Essex. Grown to combat blackgrass, they treated it as a feed crop, spending just £350/ha on variable costs.

After a successful first crop that yielded 7.7t/ha, the Watsons went one better in 2023 when by sheer good fortune, the crop made malting specification at a yield of 6.9t/ha from the same agronomy policy.

“Skyway has been a good variety for us. It’s reasonably inexpensive to grow, competes strongly with the blackgrass, reliably makes 7t/ha or thereabouts and commands a decent premium,” says Michael Watson.

Grassweed burden

“It’s been the most impressive spring barley variety we’ve grown, principally because of its agronomic characteristics; it has stiff straw, good bushel weight and a vigorous growth habit.”

The Watsons are primarily milling wheat growers. Their rotation aims to maximise the area grown profitably while enabling it to be managed and harvested in a proper and timely fashion.

Tne consequence of being so heavily focused on winter wheat, however, is a sizeable grassweed burden, especially blackgrass. Grappling with this issue led to experiments with hybrid barley and other spring barleys, but with little success.

With the launch of Skyway, the Watsons saw that even as a feed, it’s yield potential meant there was a chance of a good gross margin. Finding they could easily and reliably achieve malting specification was a welcome bonus.

“A problem with grassweeds turned out to have a big silver lining. In the years we have grown Skyway it has always met malting specification,” says Mr Watson. “This has given us the confidence to double the area to 100ha.”

With malting premiums remaining at healthy levels, the Watsons’ Skyway is now grown with proper intent. Spring barley has also paved the way for other beneficial actions, adds Mr Watson.

Crop nutrition

The nitrogen regime has been cut by 20kg/ha to ensure grain nitrogen levels don’t exceed specification and applied a little earlier with half after sowing and the remainder at the three-leaf stage in combination with 100kg/ha Polysulphate.

The farm now grows two years of a spring crop ahead of two years of milling wheat with spring beans and linseed making up the other half of the spring crop area.

The greater area of Skyway means a lighter autumn workload and a better spread of crops at harvest while its low brackling gives reassurance when milling wheat has to take priority.

“The winter wheat stubble is min-tilled in the autumn to stimulate weeds and left until the spring when sprayed-off ahead of drilling,”says Mr Watson.

“Come harvest the Skyway tends to mature about the third week of August which for us is after the Skyfall, but before the Crusoe which is why low brackling is an important characteristic.”

Market demand

Bred by Nordic Seeds and distributed in the UK by Agrii, Skyway’s full approval for brewing and pan-European acceptance has enhanced its market appeal, says Tom Eaton, trading manager at Viterra UK.

“Skyway is an out-and-out brewing variety which tends to be preferred by some brewers over so-called dual-purpose types,” he says. “It is quickly gaining acceptance among end-users who see it as the long-term successor to RGT Planet.”

Add in strong interest from European maltsters and there is clear export potential too. “We have a significant volume on contract all of which should give growers confidence that it is a variety with a bright future,” adds Mr Eaton.