As farmers prepare for spring seeding, the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre reminded them to keep barley in mind.

Technical centre wants farmers to consider barley
AAFC projects higher barley production in 2024

Australia achieves average wheat, barley harvests
Total exports down, but percentage going to China increased
Australian wheat and barley came away with average crops for 2023/24, as the threat of dryness caused by an El Niño posed a major challenge, according to the United Stated Department of Agriculture attaché in the country’s capital of Canberra.

Only minor acreage shifts expected for most Canadian crops in 2024
Major pulse crop acres expected to rise; canola, wheat expected to dip slightly
Early planting estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada called for only minor adjustments to most major crops grown in the country in 2024, with reductions in wheat, canola and barley acres, and increases in oats and pulses.

Good quality Canadian malt barley despite lower yields
CDC Copeland acres declined, with AAC Synergy the most popular malting variety
Hot and dry growing conditions cut into barley yields in Western Canada in 2023 but the quality was generally good, according to the yearly annual harvest report on barley quality from the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

With beer taps off, malt barley demand down
No significant drop in barley acres expected
MarketsFarm — Declining beer consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic will also lead to reduced demand for the malt barley to brew it — but acreage to the crop is unlikely to see much adjustment on the Prairies. “I don’t think there’s any question — without sporting events, and festivals, and concerts – that beer […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Spring rally unlikely
MarketsFarm — Feed grain bids in Western Canada have held relatively steady over the past month despite large moves in many outside markets. However, a number of factors may weigh on values heading into the spring. Feed barley is trading in the $4-$4.95 per bushel area in Alberta, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. Prices […] Read more

Malt barley prices remain stable
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

Feed weekly outlook: Barley acreage buoyed despite current prices
MarketsFarm — International demand for Canadian feed barley has been strong thanks to a 2018 growing season drought in Australia that limited exportable supplies. China purchased nearly 950,000 tonnes of Canadian barley in the first seven months of the 2018-19 year, significantly above the five-year average. However, feed markets in general are quite sluggish ahead […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Market aims to ration tight barley supplies
Tightening feed barley supplies in Western Canada have end-users looking to alternatives, with cheaper U.S. corn imports likely to keep a lid on prices. “Barley stocks are tight, so the market is trying to ration the amount of barley being used and it’s doing a pretty good job of that,” said Jim Beusekom of Market […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Barley exports could signal market strength
CNS Canada — Jeff Nielsen, a director with Alberta Barley, expected barley exports to make a strong showing. Numbers recently posted by the Canadian Grain Commission confirmed the good news he had been waiting for. “We kind of had an inkling they were going to be good and high and yeah, it just reaffirms it. […] Read more