SY Transformer Feed Barley

SY Transformer has proven itself in autumn and spring conditions so has a wide sowing window from May right through to late October and beyond. Growing conditions and yield potential always dictate PGR requirements and even though SY Transformer has a stiff straw it will benefit from a moderate PGR programme especially in the autumn and in very high growth environments.

SY Transformer has an intermediate development rate for harvest maturity.

SY Transformer is a medium to high tillering variety and target plant populations should be within the standard PGW Grain barley seed rate guidelines. Work done by Cropmark has shown yields are maximised by targeting 175-200 plants/m2 in the autumn.

SY Transformer can be planted on all soil types where barley is already grown and can be grown as a first or second-year cereal. As a second-year cereal, barley is generally more take-all tolerant than wheat, however, yield will be lower than a first-year barley crop.

SY TRANSFORMER has intermediate resistance to scald and leaf rust, and is mostly resistant to net blotch and powdery mildew. Considering this disease profile, SY TRANSFORMER will need a moderate fungicide programme to focus on scald, leaf rust and Ramularia from autumn sowings, and leaf rust from late spring sowings. In the 2022/23 PGW Grain fungicide trial, SY TRANSFORMER produced a moderate untreated yield and fungicide responses of 2.4–5.6 t/ha and 2.1–2.8 t/ha from an autumn and spring sowing, respectively. Please contact your local PGW Representative for site specific recommendations.

Disease resistance results:

SY Transformer is a medium height cultivar with moderate to stiff straw. Autumn sowings, will require a robust plant growth regulator (PGR) investment, especially under irrigation. In spring, this cultivar will still require a moderate to high PGR programme to prevent brackling and maintain high yields. The actual programme is determined by a combination of local conditions, management and yield potential. As with any cultivar, do not apply PGR if the crop is under any form of stress. Please contact your local PGW Representative for site specific recommendations.