A recently released large seeded barley is showing its worth in dry seasons.

A Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) senior plant breeder, Jerry Franckowiak of the Hermitage Research Station, said information collected for the season just finished showed the large seeded Grout variety had done very well at a number of trial and commercial moisture stressed sites in Queensland.

Dr Franckowiak said information collected by DPI&F barley development extension officer Kym McIntyre showed Grout’s yield stability under drought stress was much better than that of other varieties.

“We also found that there is less pinched grain, which is another bonus.

“Our feedback shows that many Queensland barley growers are pleased with the return from Grout,” he said.

According to Dr Franckowiak, a former US barley breeder working in Queensland to increase barley’s environmental adaptability, there are even better varieties on the horizon.

“New varieties being developed by the northern node of Barley Breeding Australia should have grain that is 15-20 per cent larger than that from Grout, and are likely to show more yield stability

“These varieties will not be available to barley growers for several years,” Dr Franckowiak said.

Grout was released in 2005 as a product of the northern region barley improvement program; a jointly funded initiative of the DPI&F, Grains Research and Development Corporation and NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Named after the formidable Australian wicket keeper Wally Grout, the variety is high yielding, quick maturing and disease resistant.

Producers and buyers prefer its grain size, which is larger than that of other commercial varieties.