BARLEY PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH: IMPLICATIONS FOR FEED, FOOD, AND ETHANOL

The primary objective of the proposed research is to support the existing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) livestock feed industry and the developing barley-to-ethanol industry on the East Coast. There is high potential to provide multiple benefits including: more income for local farmers resulting in preservation and enhancement of the rural economy and environment, lower cost fuel ethanol in the region, co-production of barley distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a protein rich product with potential uses in food and feed industries, and increased production of high-valued biomass. Growing need for domestic energy independence, banning of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and policy in the Renewable Fuels Standard has led to a major expansion of domestic fuel ethanol production. Barley is a $6 million industry in Virginia and ranks 11th among agricultural crops (VASS, 2008). Value of the barley industry stands to grow tremendously as a viable barley-to-ethanol industry develops that will purchase over $70 million of barley in the region. Wheat and barley are also valuable to Virginia farmers because of their ability to grow on soils with less water holding capacity than that needed for corn; and they are winter annuals that grow during the fall, winter, and spring months, when evaporation is lowest. Research that will enable farmers to produce these grains more economically and to garner more value for grain is, therefore, important to Virginia.