UC Signal barley, developed at the Imperial Valley Field Station, El Centro, within 40 miles of Mount Signal for which it was named, is well-adapted to the lower desert areas of California. In comparative tests over a 3- to 7-year period, it has shown an 8 to 30 percent yield superiority over varieties previously recommended for the Imperial Valley.

Cooperating in the study were J. D. Prato and W. H. Isom of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis and Riverside, respectively, and Farm Advisors G. J. St. Andre, Fresno County, and S. W. Kite, Kings County.