Stockford Barley

Stockford Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is an annual, spring cereal grain variety. It is a two-rowed, hooded grain– differing from many other awnless or awned barley varieties. Stockford averages about 32 inches tall at maturity, but provides great feed value as forage or hay. This unique barley is adapted to the Intermountain area of the Pacific Northwest and to the western prairies of Canada.

General Description:

Stockford Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a two-rowed, hooded spring barley. Developed by WestBred LLC, Stockford Barley is a cross of Baronesse/ BZ 591-57. Stockford is adapted to the Intermountain West and western parts of Canada. The plant is medium tall at maturity and has a mid-season maturity time. The leaves and stem of the Stockford Barley are slightly waxy, while the head is strap shaped, lax and slightly waxy. While the barley is a spring annual, it does have the ability to handle some cool weather in the early spring. It is a great forage and hay producer for many classes of livestock or it can be used for erosion control and as an inexpensive cover crop option.

Uses:

Stockford Barley can be used for hay and forage production. It has a higher feed value than other available barley varieties. Stockford also produces higher seed yields and test weights– decreasing overall production costs. Barley is typically used as a high-protein component in livestock feed rations– for cattle, sheep, pics, and poultry.

Planting Conditions:

Stockford Barley should be planted in the early spring months. Depending upon elevation, climate and weather patterns, it may be planted as early as January or as late as April/May. Spring barley will grow very rapidly through the spring and into summer. It is more tolerant of temporary dry conditions and heat spells than other legumes and some cover crop varieties

Barley typically does not tolerate poorly drained soils or soil with high pH values, although it generally performs better than most small grain varieties in alkaline soils (result can differ based on soil type and alkaline levels). The best soils to grow barley are well-drained, loamy/clay soils. Barley prefers full sunlight.

As an early germinating spring crop, barley can control weeds and prevent erosion. Barley has a fibrous root system that helps compete with weeds, while also shading out and absorbing necessary water and nutrients that weeds need.

FUN FACT: Barley produces an allopathic chemical (a chemical that is toxic to other plants) that can prevent other weed seeds from germinating. (USDA Plant Guide)

Establishment:

Stockford Barley should be planted in the spring months, typically between March and April, after you last frost date. While barley can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40 degrees F, a late spring frost can cause harm to young seedlings. Planting in the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest should be done when soil temperature are consistently over 40 degrees and night time temperatures are above freezing.

Spring growth is most successful when the crop can receive a minimum of one irrigation. While the crop is somewhat drought tolerant, the added irrigation will benefit overall crop production and harvest yields.

The fibrous root system of barley allows the plant to use many of the residual nutrients. Fertilizers are not always needed for barley crops, especially if the barley is planted with other cover crop/legume varieties. However, nitrogen and other fertilizers can be added to the barley crop based on the soil composition of the planting site.

We recommend Stukenholtz Laboratory for speedy, accurate soil reports.

Seeding Rate:

Drill Seeding: Barley should be drill seeded at 100 pounds per acre as a monoculture crop. The seeding rate can be decreased if mixed with other cover crop varieties.

Please call for suggestions and recommendations on custom cover crop mixes! #435-283-1411

Seeding Depth: Barley should be planted between 3/4″ – 1″ deep.