California is well suited to the main feed barley growing areas of the UK having good agronomic characters and disease resistance combined with very good grain quality.
California has demonstrated its high yield potential across years of National and Recommended List trials, performing especially well in the West of the UK where the majority of feed barley is grown. California is similar in height to the majority of feed winter barleys with very good lodging resistance, when treated with a PGR. Ripening is similar to KWS Cassia.
California has a good disease resistance package with nothing rated below a ‘5’. Resistance to Rhynchosporium; an important disease in the wetter regions of the UK, is better than KWS Cassia.
California is also resistant to the commonly occurring strains of Barley mosaic virus. It has good grain quality, producing a bold sample with good screenings and straw yields.