opportunities and challenges - american...

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES associated with reintroducing malting barley

in non-traditional growing regions ASHLEY MCFARLAND

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Upper Peninsula

Research & Extension Center

Established in 1899

Current research focus:

Soil health

Integrated cropping

and livestock systems

Local food systems

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MICHIGAN 4

Brewers Association, 2015

Brewers

Association

2014

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Malting barley research

Established research program in 2013

Variety trials

Cultural management

Facilitation of industry growth

Developed to respond to demand

from craft beverage market

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Responding to needs

Understanding of varieties

Access to seed

Crop management

Understanding quality

Marketing grain

Lack of support/resources

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Varieties

Identified types in

demand

Participate in variety

trials

Assist in early

breeding programs

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Seed access

Identify high prospect

varieties

Collaborate with seed

companies

Bring together seed growers

and crop improvement

association

Spartan initiative

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Spartan Barley 10

Crop management

Conduct management trials

focusing on fertility and

disease management

Develop harvest and storage

recommendations

Support on-farm research

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Quality

Finding varieties that

produce quality

Develop infrastructure to

test quality

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Marketing

Malthouse development

support

Play “matchmaker” for

farmers and maltsters

Developing secondary

markets

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Industry support

Strong relationship with Michigan

Brewers Guild

Barley contact database

Listserv

Website

Field days

Industry surveys

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< 10 acres

10 - < 100 acres

> 100 acres

Special Initiatives

Engagement at national level

Farm to tap brews

Supply chain and economic impact

analysis

Great Lakes Hop and Barley

Conference

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Support

American Malting

Barley Association, Inc.

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Ashley McFarland ashleymc@anr.msu.edu

(906) 439-5176

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