Barley growers get on the net.(Farming Life)

BARLEY growers throughout Britain can now use the Internet to compare their results with test sites around the country thanks to a new HGCA- funded project.

By logging on to www.hgca.com and clicking on `Barley Growth Study - Live', growers can compare their results with those from one of six reference sites from Aberdeen down to central England.

HGCA research communications manager, Dr Clare Kelly, said: "For the first time, growers will have fixed references to compare their crops with, enabling them to gauge crop progress and as a result determine appropriate management decisions. In particular, the photographs on the website will provide a valuable tool for assessing canopy size.''