Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Malt barley prices have held steady throughout the 2019 growing season as global demand remains strong. Malt prices in 2018 were driven about 15 per cent higher due to a global shortage. According to Farmlink, drought conditions caused Australia to produce “one of the smallest barley crops in recent memory.” The crops were […] Read more

Malt barley prices remain stable

Malt barley acreage predicted to increase
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Industry experts expect malt barley acreage in Western Canada to increase by about five per cent this year, supported by strong prices for both feed and malt. “All indications suggest we’ll see an increase in malt barley, as well as feed,” confirmed Peter Watts of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. In light […] Read more

Canada’s malt barley courts two different buyers
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The rising North American craft beer sector and strong demand out of China are both good news stories for Canada’s malt barley sector. However, those two customers have different needs which can also create some challenges, said industry officials speaking Tuesday at the annual Grain World conference in Winnipeg. Lorelle Selinger, North […] Read more

Harvest delays prompt questions about malt barley supplies
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — The long, wet harvest of 2018 has probably spelled the end for most hopes that barley still in fields will meet malting specifications. “I really suspect that anything left in the field now, any barley now, will not be malting quality,” said Jeff Nielsen, a farmer near Olds, Alta., and director with […] Read more

Dry weather not a problem for malt barley crop, so far
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada – The prairie malting barley crop is faring reasonable well in the hot, dry weather, but crop watchers will have a better idea of protein content in a couple weeks. “We’ve yet to see what this crop is. I think we’re a little early yet. Indications are that it could be a little […] Read more

Downturn seen in organic markets for malt barley, hemp
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — As organic producers look to clean out the 2017 crop from their bins before seeding, they’re finding lower prices than they’re willing to sell for. Contracts have been filled up, meaning some producers who were waiting for higher prices are out of luck with no options to sell their crops. Some buyers […] Read more

Prairie malt barley prices lower than feed
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — With feed barley in tight supply, the tables have flipped with feed prices now sitting higher than those for malt barley in Western Canada. Feed barley prices “make some of these other prices look a bit ridiculous. There’s no demand from the domestic maltsters because they’ve all been plugged up ever since […] Read more

Something old for something new
This century-old malt barley variety is set to launch a renaissance in the brewing sector
Reading Time: 6 minutes *[Updated with email comment at bottom: Aug. 25, 2017] The key to branding any product is to start with a good story, and the recently re-instated registration of OAC21, a six-rowed malting barley, is a “feel good” story, particularly with Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017. On its own, OAC21 isn’t expected to ever become a huge […] Read more

Malt barley outlook promising, but harvest quality will be key
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada – Many questions remain about Western Canada’s malt barley crop, but many analysts appear to expect at least an adequate harvest. Quality concerns and yield reductions will hit farmers in southern areas, but for those with good quality, prices should remain at least steady for the medium term. While analysts cautioned that forecasts […] Read more

Fear of feed expected to keep malt barley acres low
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Concerns about weather dictating the quality of malt barley is keeping producers from seeding the crop this year, one industry participant says, while weak prices offer no extra incentive. “Acres are definitely going to be down, because of the fear of getting feed barley, which is horrendously low-priced,” said Rod Green of […] Read more