Kentucky Small Grain News

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Posts in Research
University of Kentucky Launches New Crop Variety Testing Site

The University of Kentucky Wheat and Small Grains Variety Testing Program evaluates wheat and small grain (barley, cereal rye, oats, triticale, ancient grains) varieties that are commercially available or may soon be available to farmers. Annual variety performance testing provide farmers, seed producers, extension agents and consultants with current, unbiased information to help them select the varieties best adapted to their locality and individual requirements.

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UK begins on-farm variable rate irrigation research

A University of Kentucky research project that could have significant impacts for Kentucky grain producers with irrigated acres is beginning on a Western Kentucky farm. Ole Wendroth, soil physicist in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is leading a study examining the effects of a variable rate irrigation system that, to his knowledge, is the first-of-its-kind in the state.

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Investigating cereal rye cultivars for improved cover crop performance

Cereal rye is planted on more acres than any other cover crop species in the U.S. because it can reliably produce substantial biomass in a wide range of growing conditions. In order to maximize these benefits, well-adapted cereal rye cultivars should be selected for rapid and complete ground cover, high biomass production, and high potential to suppress weeds. 

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Improvement and Development of Barley for Use in Feed, Malt, and Food

As interest continues to grow in locally produced ingredients from the craft brewing industry in the mid-Atlantic and eastern U.S. finding malted barley is not easy for those located east of the Mississippi river. Therefore, the program’s main effort is breeding winter malting barley cultivars that have superior malt quality and are well adapted to the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States.

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