Into its fourth autumn Aleksandra continues to serve livestock farmers well. Dependent on region yield is generally marginally better than KWS Tardis and sometimes also exceeds LG Caravelle.
While yield is acceptable for a 2-row feed Aleksandra excels in other agronomic aspects which makes it somewhat unique in the market today. It has vigorous establishment, its straw is long with plenty of it, its resistance to disease is exceptional and it produces bold grain for feeding or selling.
Aleksandra is a two-row feed barley with exceptional disease resistance and the highest untreated yield and specific weight of any variety of its time in official trials
Untreated yield highest of any variety three years running
Medium to long strawed perfectly suited to livestock farmers - easy to manage feed variety with max straw yield
Comprehensive PGR recommended for fertile soils
Aleksandra 10 January 2024 - showing some hybrid-like vigour and only just looking in need of nitrogen - Quentin Ham, South West Agronomist
There is a direct link between Aleksandra’s disease resistance and its superb specific weight. Unlike wheat where yield is reliant on a disease-free leaf one and two, in barley earlier infections pre growth stage 31 are more important. These can reduce photosynthetic area, restrict tillering and result in lower yields. Foliar disease infections after GS 39 can result in smaller grains and higher screenings. Nevertheless, in most situations fungicides will boost yield and keep crops healthy as they develop through canopy greening or growth regulatory effects.
Aleksandra winter barley is not on the UK AHDB Recommended List as its standing was deemed only ‘moderate’ following specific trials aimed solely at lodging varieties. Aleksandra’s straw is medium to long and will benefit from a comprehensive plant growth regulator programme when following a break crop or grown in highly fertile situations. When managed correctly quality straw can be harvested adding further value to the overall crop.
“We got 349 big round bales off 14 hectares – not bad” voiced dairy farmer Rob Vines, Wiltshire.
By ignoring Aleksandra’s straw and grain qualities and superb disease resistance AHDB were potentially denying livestock farmers of a significant home-produced benefit when production margins are tight. Agrovista feels these attributes are worth marketing and have over-ruled their decision and committed to maintain and produce the variety for retail sale. AHDB were not considering the benefits Aleksandra offers the livestock farmer, high specific weight means more starch per tonne and longer straw, more bales per hectare for bedding and feeding.
Aleksandra is fundamentally a management tool for growers and livestock farmers. A source of quality bedding and feeding straw. Or as an extra income stream to sell on. A means to manage risk when arable contractors are employed to grow the crops, or to widen the spraying window of opportunity if covering the entire farmed area when disease strikes is difficult.
"Bracketed data highlights a low number of trials in dataset and cannot be presumed accurate."