MSU Extension Malting Barley

Although barley is a highly adaptable crop, it requires intensive management to reach a level of quality required for the malting process. Both winter barley and spring barley can be grown in Michigan, although winter barley is better suited for the southern part of the state, while spring barley is a better match for the northern half of the state. Below are some publications and links to help get you started.

• Winter Barley Management Guidelines: An overview of agronomy needed to produce high quality malting barley using winter varieties (2019).
• Spring Malting Barley Production in Michigan: A getting started guide to malting barley production, written and published by MSU Extension. Includes guidance on planting, fertility, disease and pest management, markets, and cost of production (2014).
• Managing Fusarium head scab of malting barley
• Malting Barley Analysis Lab Options
• Malting barley seed sources:
  • Michigan Crop Improvement Association
  • Albert Lea Seed
  • Adams Seed
  • Seedway
  • C3 Seeds
  • Schmidt Farms of Auburn
• Michigan State University Variety Trial Data

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