A range of three generations from each of three populations of Cambridge Composite Cross Five of barley spanning a period of 18 years of cultivation in Cambridge was evaluated for grain yield over 2 years in the field in 1991 and 1992. The design of the experiment was a randomized complete block with two replications. In 1991, the yield of the best composite cross generation was 78% that of Atem, a commercial variety bred for N.W. European conditions. In the drought-affected year, 1992, three of the composite cross generations performed better than Atem. It is suggested that composite cross populations may be useful in deriving lines for low-input agriculture.