Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) has had a severe impact on the production of six-row malting barley in the Midwestern United States. The accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON), associated with FHB, in infected grain makes it undesirable for malting and brewing. In the past few years a massive research effort has been launched to find means of controlling FHB in the U.S. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of FHB epidemics in the past 7 years on contamination of grain with DON and predict the short term impact of implementing new strategies for disease management on the availability of malting barley. Barley samples were collected in North Dakota and the northwest and west central districts of Minnesota during harvest, 1993-1999. Sample collection was at the county level and was based upon historical barley production for each country. In total, 390-690 six-rowed samples were collected each year. All samples were analyzed for protein, test weight, and kernel plumpness. DON was determined on approximately 25-37% of samples collected (147-194) each year. DON determination was by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The severity of FHB in the Midwest in the past seven years has varied considerably with as much as 51% of the crop estimated to be usable (<0.5 ppm DON) to as little as 21% usable. Interestingly, not only did years differ for average DON level and % of crop non-detectable in DON, but also the distribution of the harvested crop with respect to DON level. While in some years DON levels ranged from 0 to 13 ppm in other years samples ranged from 0 to 50 ppm. Recent research results indicate that reducing levels of DON by half are possible in the near future through breeding and other disease control measures. Simulating this level of DON reduction in the past seven years suggests significant increase in available malting barley would result in some years, while having little impact in very severe years.