The field experiments were carried out in 1999_2002 at the Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute (PBI) in Estonia to investigate the genetic and environmental variation of agronomic characteristics of malting barley. 57 malting barley varieties were included in the trials. Grain yield, number of tillers per 1m², plant height, lodging resistance and growing time were measured in the trial with malting barley.

 Despite very different weather conditions, the grain yield stability of malting barley varieties was very high. Tillering  showed somewhat lower genetic variability compared to the variation of grain yield. The plant height indicates moderate genetic variability. Lodging resistance and growing time showed  low genetic variability.