Nighttime frosts during May are the suspected cause of a high amount of blank grains in winter barley crop in parts of the northwest and northeast.

Nighttime temperatures during this period reached minus figures on occasion.

A number of crops of winter barley appear to have suffered damage during flowering as a result of this.

Damage at flowering

Flowering in barley occurs close to the boot. This generally offers protection to anthers against frost exposure.

However, when a sharp frost occurs, this can lead to sterile florets.

As the crop develops, this leads to an absence of grain.

Floret sterility and the subsequent blank grains are particularly noticeable when the sun is shining through the heads of the plant.

The percentage of blank grains ranges from 5% to 50%.

Light comes through florets where grain is absent.

This is how many growers identified the problem.

As the crop develops, the grain remains empty and is generally blown out the back of the combine during harvest.

Severity

Crops appear to be affected on a field-by-field basis, largely dictated by location and topography.

Indeed, some varieties appear to be baldy affected, with multiple reports that Cassia and Tower were badly hit.

The percentage of blank grains on affected plants ranged from 5% to 50%.

May frost suspected of causing blank grains in winter barley

A number of cold nights in May were the suspected cause of blank grains in a number of winter barley crops in the northwest and northeast.