Hudson Valley malting barley crops, 2016
Malting barley harvest, Hudson Valley, 2014
'Quest' spring malting barley, Orange County, 2016
'AAC Synergy' spring malting barley, Dutchess County, 2016
'KWS Scala' winter malting barley, Ulster County, 2016
'Quest' malting barley, Dutchess County, 2016
'Quest' Spring malting barley, Ulster County, 2015
'Wintmalt' winter malting barley, Dutchess County, 2014
'Quest' and 'Conlon' spring malting barleys, Dutchess County, 2015
'Conlon' spring malting barley, Dutchess County, 2014
Malting Barley for New York State
Funder: New York State Department of Ag and Markets and Genesee Valley Regional Marketing Authority
CCEUC role: Regional collaborator
Why: The passage of the Farm Brewery Bill opened up opportunities to develop a new industry in New York with great potential for collateral economic opportunities, including tourism. With initiative and leadership by Governor Cuomo, the Empire State Development Council has brought together leaders from all segments of the supply chain from seed producers and growers to maltsters to brewers and distillers to set goals and make recommendations for meeting those goals. An annual production target of at least 30,000 acres of malting barley in New York by 2023 has been set. As with any new industry, an infrastructure is required to successfully launch and maintain the components that support it. Malting barley has not been grown on a significant commercial scale in New York in several decades, so there is essentially no information available on varieties, management practices, or production and marketing. With support from the State for strategic programs in research, education, and infrastructure development, New York should be able meet its production goal and be a national leader in malted barley, craft brewing, and distillates.
What: The primary goal of this project is to develop the infrastructure necessary for the economic production of high quality malting barley for New York that will serve the needs of malt houses, farm breweries and distilleries. In order to achieve that goal, scientists and educators from Cornell University have developed a coordinated three-‐year plan for applied research and outreach education programs on malting barley that include as integral components:
- Selection of the best malting varieties adapted to New York environments
- Development of certified seed stocks of these best varieties for planting by New York growers
- Identification of best integrated methods, including fungicides, to limit the negative impact of diseases and mycotoxins on barley yield and quality
- Identification of best agronomic and fertilization practices for barley production
- Optimized weed management including herbicides labeled for use in New York
- Development and facilitation of barley, malt, beer, and distillate quality testing services for New York growers, maltsters, brewers, and distillers
- A comprehensive outreach education program that will include a) a malting barley production component aimed at growers and malt houses as well as b) a brewer and distiller education and workforce development component.
- A program manager position is envisioned to coordinate project management and communications among participants, funders, and stakeholders.
- Personnel positions for project manager and coordinators of the barley production and brewer/distiller education components may provide excellent opportunities to expand Cornell Cooperative Extension’s outreach to the New York agricultural community.
Last updated March 16, 2021