For the second time in three years, Lacey has topped Robust as the variety with the most acres planted to barley, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lacey accounts for 54.6 percent of the state’s planted barley acreage, or 71,000 acres. Robust, last year’s top barley variety in the state, accounts for 27.8 percent of the state’s planted barley acreage or 36,200 acres. Total planted barley acreage for Minnesota in 2008 is estimated at 130,000 acres, unchanged from 2007. The Northwest District contains the largest portion of state’s barley acreage at 90,900 acres, followed by the Central District at 15,000 acres, the West Central District at 7,800 acres, and the Southeast District at 6,900 acres. The remaining five districts combined contain an estimated 9,400 acres of barley.

Lacey, a six-row malting variety is characterized by its high yield, medium maturity, good lodging resistance, and kernel plumpness. The Northwest District contains the most Lacey barley, with 55,200 acres. The West Central District accounts for 6,000 acres, the Central District for 4,800 acres, and the Southeast District for 2,100 acres. The remaining districts are estimated to contain 2,900 acres of Lacey barley.

Robust, a six-row malting variety is characterized by good kernel plumpness and medium yield, maturity, and lodging resistance. Most of the Robust variety is planted in the Northwest District with 20,900 acres. Robust is also the variety with the largest acreage in the Central District with 7,700 acres. Robust is estimated at 1,900 acres in the Southeast District and 1,700 acres in the West Central District. The five remaining districts contain an estimated 4,000 acres of Robust barley.

Tradition is the third largest planted barley acreage in the state, with 10,400 acres, or 8.0 percent, and is mostly concentrated in the Northwest District. Tradition is a six-rowed malting variety with high yield and medium maturity, lodging resistance, and kernel plumpness.
Royal, Drummond, and Conlon, all malting varieties, each account for one to three percent of the state planted acreage. Royal has 4,100 acres or 3.2 percent of the state total, with planting concentrated in the Southeast and Central districts. Drummond has 2,800 acres, with plantings spread between districts. Conlon has 2,400 acres or 1.8 percent of the state total, with planting concentrated in the Northwest District.