MERCURIO

Growing Experience with Mercurio Barley

When we first established demo fields with Mercurio from Syngenta, our primary goal was to find a crop that provides not only stable yields but also survives our climate anomalies. In the field, this barley behaves like a predictable Swiss product: its tillering capacity is above average, allowing for quick canopy closure that suppresses weeds without the extra cost of heavy herbicide applications.

Agronomic Features and Maintenance

During cultivation, I noted its responsiveness to intensive management. The plant has a robust stem, which is crucial for preventing lodging when applying nitrogen fertilizers. From an operator’s perspective, Mercurio is a pleasure to harvest: uniform ripening of the ears allows you to set optimal drum speed and concave clearances once, without wasting time on endless adjustments while moving through the field.

Why Choose This Variety?

• Excellent tolerance to stress during the stem elongation phase.
• Minimal losses during direct harvesting due to the strong structure of the ear.
• Stable grain bushel weight, which simplifies logistics and storage—less debris and higher bulk density.

Regarding field maintenance, the "Swiss" genetics of Syngenta are evident in its resistance to foliar diseases. We significantly reduced the number of fungicide treatments compared to standard varieties, which directly improved the cost-per-ton of the harvested grain.