Saskatchewan (Rural Roots Canada) – Saskatchewan barley had a strong year in 2025, and researchers say the results go beyond just good growing conditions.

Mitchell Japp, Research and Extension Manager with Sask Barley, says reports coming in from across the province this past harvest were notable. Growers near Indian Head were reporting 130 to 140 bushels an acre. One farmer running a plant growth regulator trial came in at nearly 150.

“The average yield across the province and the prairies is just beyond any expectation,” Japp said.

The newer varieties on the market are also playing a role, bringing higher yield potential, better disease resistance and less tendency to fall over before harvest.

“Almost half of the acres planted to barley in 2025 were registered within the last 10 years, which was higher than I expected,” he said. “It shows a really positive trend in the sector.”

Sask Barley has been studying plant growth regulators for two years. Data from their own trials and other research indicate MODIS is the more effective option over Manipulator, which has a yellow label under the Keep It Clean program that some export markets will not accept.

Japp says plant growth regulators are not without risk. In stressed conditions, they can cause yield loss, and in non-optimal conditions, results tend to be neutral.

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A newer project this year looked at split nitrogen applications in malt barley, a practice not commonly used in the crop because of protein concerns. The idea is to seed with a reduced nitrogen rate, then top up mid-season if the crop looks like it can support a higher yield. Japp says some growers are already doing it.

“We wanted to get a better understanding and maybe a little bit more comfort for growers who are thinking about it,” he said.

The 2025 season was drier early on in much of Saskatchewan, until rain came in mid-June. Japp says the timing may have limited what the trial could show, and the plan is to run it again in 2026.

Sask Barley is also looking at harvest uniformity, a challenge unique to malt barley. Buyers will reject grain treated with pre-harvest aids like glyphosate or heat, which means uneven crop maturity at harvest is a real problem for growers.

“No glyphosate, no heat,” Japp said.

Results from several 2025 trials are still being analyzed, with expanded research planned for next year.

“To see the potential of what can happen in a really high production system for barley growers is fantastic,” Japp said. “To see some of the research come to fruition and support those high yields is a good thing.”