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Two-Row Barley

Barleys, like oats, are a hulled grain. While oats can be dehulled with relative ease, barleys are difficult to dehull. Barleys have two-kernel types, two-row and six-row. Two-row barleys are produced on varieties with just two rows of kernels on their heads. Six-row barleys are varieties with six rows of kernels on their heads (see Plant Features). Two -row barley kernels have bottoms that are all uniform. Two-thirds of the kernels of a six-row barley have a slight twist at their base because of the way they are fastened to the grain head. Most barley is used for animal feed but some is used to produce malt for beer and malt powder for food flavoring. Malt is produced by soaking barley in water to cause it to start to grow but then drying and toasting the grain just as it begins to grow. Both winter and spring varieties exist with spring types dominant.