Barley Revival in Minnesota? Strong Trials Offer Hope, But Fusarium Threat Looms Over 2025 Harvest Potential
Minnesota barley trials look promising in 2025-yet the shadow of Fusarium head blight raises fears of another devastating season for growers.
With ideal growing conditions and strong early performance in research plots, 2025 is shaping up to be a promising year for barley in Minnesota. But for breeders and producers alike, that optimism comes with a serious caveat: Fusarium head blight could still derail the harvest.
At the University of Minnesota's St. Paul research fields, Kevin Smith, head of the school's barley breeding program, is cautiously optimistic. "We've had heat, plenty of rain-great for growth," Smith said. "Yields could be solid." But what's also growing is concern. "We've already seen Fusarium symptoms in our plots-and we're not even trying to detect it."
Fusarium head blight, also known as scab, is a fungal disease that damages barley and wheat. In 2024, it hit Minnesota hard-so much so that Smith called it "the worst Fusarium year in my 26-year career." That year, entire fields were compromised, with lost yields and toxin-contaminated grain.
The University of Minnesota's barley program, active since 1918, is now focused on more resilient two-row spring barley, better aligned with malt industry demands. However, as Smith noted, "Barley isn't a major crop in Minnesota anymore." According to USDA, acreage has dropped from 1.2 million in 1988 to just 50,000 acres in 2025-and nearly half of that is dedicated to malting.
Smith says crop rotation is key. "Avoid planting barley after corn. Corn residue is a Fusarium incubator." He also recommends targeted fungicide use and selecting varieties with some level of resistance-though few barley options offer protection comparable to resistant wheat.
Noah Fish
There is renewed interest in naked (hull-less) barley, which may have value in animal feed, brewing, and human food. Meanwhile, Smith sees potential in winter barley, which could thrive in southern Minnesota, allowing for earlier harvests, reduced transport costs, and better integration with malt houses.
But for now, farmers remain on edge. With Fusarium already visible in non-inoculated test plots, the parallels to 2024 are clear. Without strategic crop management and better-resistant genetics, the crop may once again fall victim to this aggressive disease-despite a near-perfect start to the season.
