GRDC-funded Northern Grower Alliance chief executive officer, Richard Daniel, says aphid infestations on barley are increasingly common in the northern grains region.

"The current options are to leave the infestation untreated, to apply foliar insecticide after aphid appearance or to use a long-acting seed treatment for aphid suppression," Mr Daniel said.

The joint NGA/NSW Department of Primary Industries and Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries project aims to examine the benefits of aphid management under commercial conditions.

"Researchers will measure yield impacts of aphid infestations in barley and determine the benefits of seed treatment versus foliar applications for aphid management," Mr Daniel said.

"We will then examine for varietal differences with regards to aphid or virus tolerance, and collect samples to allow measurement of aphid population dynamics by QDPI&F."

Trial sites are located at Yallaroi, west of Moree, the Liverpool Plains and Gilgandra, NSW.

Results are expected to be delivered to growers later this year.