North Dakota Barley, Oat and Rye Variety Trial Results for 2024 and Selection Guide

Barley, oat and rye varieties currently grown in North Dakota are described in this publication. When selecting a variety, consider the following characteristics: yield potential in your area, test weight, straw strength, plant height, susceptibility to disease and maturity. In 2024, barley was planted on an estimated 370,000 acres in North Dakota, down 54% from 690,000 acres in 2023; statewide barley yield was estimated at 74 bushels per acre. Untimely rains on ripe barley in mid-August in the central and eastern portions of the state caused widespread pre-harvest sprouting and hurt many growers’ ability to market their crop. Oat was planted on 280,000 acres in 2024, the same number reported as in 2023. Oat yield was estimated at 98 bushels per acre, up substantially from 76 bushels per ac in 2023. Rye acres were estimated at 84,000 in 2024, down from 96,000 acres reported in 2023. Readers are advised to keep in mind that cereal rye acres are somewhat uncertain as surveys may not capture all acres planted because of its frequent use as a cover crop or forage instead of grain.

Selecting barley varieties with good quality is important to maintain market recognition. Because malting barley usually is purchased on an identity-preserved basis, producers are encouraged to determine which barley varieties are acceptable to potential buyers. Use data that summarize several years and locations to select a high-yielding and high-quality variety. Additional data from county sites are available at
https://vt.ag.ndsu.edu and from each Research Extension Center.

Yield is reported on a 14.5%, 14% and 14% moisture basis for barley, oats and rye, respectively. Protein is reported on a 0% moisture basis for all crops in this report. The agronomic data presented in this publication are from replicated research plots using experimental designs that enable the use of statistical analysis. The LSD (least significant difference) numbers beneath the columns in tables are derived from these statistical analyses and apply only to the numbers in the column in which they appear. Differences between two varieties exceeding the LSD value mean that with 90% confidence (LSD probability 0.10), the higher-yielding variety has a significant yield advantage.