This season’s barley breeding trials go on show in the Warwick district on Thursday, October 26.

Queensland's Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries barley development extension officer Kym McIntyre said visitors would see experimental lines for possible future release during a field walk at the Hermitage Research Station.

Ms McIntyre said the lines had improved yield and disease resistance over the current commercial varieties, and some had different maturity times.

Other trials for inspection included time of planting and nitrogen fertiliser rate, disease screening, and trials to find the differences in flowering times of commercial and new elite lines, Ms McIntyre said.

She said the field walk would also provide visitors with an opportunity to talk with members of the northern barley breeding team, including recently appointed barley breeder Dr Jerry Franckowiak.

Dr Franckowiak will work for five years to increase barley’s adaptability to the range of Queensland farming environments. 

The field walk starts at 9am and finishes at noon. More information is available from the Hermitage Research Station (4660 3601).