Barley

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is involved in all aspects of the barley value chain from pre-breeding research to support the development of new barley varieties through to barley agronomy research, development and extension, barley grain quality assessments and market intelligence work.

Barley is Western Australia’s second largest cereal crop after wheat – accounting for 25% of the state’s total grain production and delivering just over $1 billion in barley grain and malt export earnings each year.

Thirty per cent of barley produced is delivered as malting grade destined for the international beer industry with the remaining 70% delivered as feed grade – the majority of which is sent to the Middle East.