b"Canadian Malt Barley Technical Centre variety trials nearly ready for harvest on Aug. 9, 2021.PHOTO: SHERI STRYDHORSTMaltsters also need to recognize that if producers are growingare better yielders, that offer better disease package, that have AC Metcalfe compared to a new malt variety, there might be a ninegreat quality. But its a complicated and slow process to encourage per cent yield decrease, says Strydhorst. Producers have to ask: Isuptake, says Peter Watts, CMBTC executive director.there a price premium to make up for that yield difference? Kevin Sich is the barley chain director for Rahr Maltings Barley variety selection is influenced, almost more than anyCanadian market. In that role, he oversees all the malting barley other crop, by the comfort of the end userin this case, a brewergrain purchases from Canadian growers for Rahr Maltings twowith specific varieties. If a grower tries a new variety and brewersCanadian malting plants. His top priorities, like those of any arent willing to try it, the barleyno matter how high the qualitymalting barley buyer, are germination, protein and plump. will be relegated to feed. Above all, he wants consistency, consistency, consistency in the Maltsters need familiarity with a variety and need to know thegrain he buys.quality it produces in different environments so they can haveEvery conversation starts with, What variety are you growing? confidence that theyll be able to access the consistent quality andsays Sich. When a producer phones me offering (malting barley), volume they need. But they cant get that familiarity without tryingthats where we start.something new, explains Strydhorst. Yet, how much CDC Copeland or AC Metcalfe, the Alberta She adds that she hopes this mapping project, though intendedmalting industrys two go-to varieties, does Sich buy as part of his for growers, might also give maltsters more confidence in newmalt barley orders? The answer to that, interestingly, is zero, he says. varieties.Sich explains that newer varieties can prove economically beneficial If the maps show the agronomic success of new varieties,for both the farmer and the buyer. together with CMBTC analyzing the samples from these diverseWhen you tell a brewer than a variety is more efficient and more environments (for malting quality), Id hope that accessible dataproductive, you capture their attention, he adds. Are we tougher would help mitigate some of maltsters fears and allow them to say:on a new variety? Yes. A variety has to prove itself. Just because its Hey, that variety is really performing well in that geographic area.new and shiny doesnt mean were going to adopt it. But well look Let's do some testing with it based on what we see in these smallat any varieties that make sense.plot trials, Strydhorst says. While Sich says he hasnt used Alberta Grains interactive map The industry is working hard to get information to producers.himself, he says that more information to all parts of the value Were also working hard to build acceptance of new varieties thatchain is always positive. 36seed.ab.ca"