Reciprocal tariffs from Canada and Mexico may raise costs and limit export opportunities for U.S. barley growers, at a time when beer demand is also falling.

With beer drinking down in U.S., barley farmers now fear tariffs
Tariffs could hurt U.S. barley exports to Mexico, Canada

Technical centre wants farmers to consider barley
AAFC projects higher barley production in 2024
As farmers prepare for spring seeding, the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre reminded them to keep barley in mind.

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).

Bureau won’t challenge takeover of Canada Malting parent
U.K. also has 'no further questions'
The owner of one of Canada’s major commercial maltsters says its takeover by a major French peer won’t be challenged by Canada’s antitrust regulator. United Malt Group, whose Canadian assets operate under the Canada Malting banner, last month locked in on a previously announced deal to sell itself to France’s Malteries Soufflet for A$1.5 billion […] Read more

Richardson buys into European malt market
Winnipeg agrifood firm buys U.K.-based Anglia Maltings
Paris | Reuters — Canada’s biggest grain merchant Richardson International is entering the malt sector through the acquisition of U.K.-based Anglia Maltings Holdings (AMH), targeting rising demand for the beer and whisky ingredient, Richardson said on Friday without disclosing financial terms. Anglia Maltings operates seven malt facilities in the U.K., Poland, and Germany, with combined […] Read more

Little change in barley acres expected
Malt barley prices mainly steady
MarketsFarm — As spring planting approaches, Peter Watt of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) said there likely won’t be a big shift in barley acres that will be planted in 2023. “Producers have made their [planting] decisions for the most part. You might see people adjust their plans a little bit based on […] Read more

Olds researchers aim for better brew of malting barley varieties
Breeders aim for a package that keeps both the farmers and the customers happy
Reading Time: 2 minutes Plant breeders have many challenges, but malting barley breeders have an extra one. Customers sometimes like their varieties so much that they’re reluctant to change to ones that are better for farmers. “We are looking at things that are not only going to be good in production and give farmers higher yields and ultimately more […] Read more

Malt barley academy kicks off next week
Reading Time: < 1 minute For the first time ever, the well-respected Producer Malt Academy is being held in Alberta. The two-day course (to be held March 23-24 in Red Deer) is being put on by the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre in collaboration with Alberta Barley. The event features a number of presentations by well-known experts on barley selection […] Read more

Low demand for barley keeps prices stable
Wheat's volatility not reflecting onto barley values
MarketsFarm — Unlike the dramatic leaps wheat prices have made since the Russian invasion of Ukraine 12 days ago, malt barley prices have moved very little, according to Kris Moric of Johnston’s Grains in Calgary. Wheat “is not pulling barley prices with it, as far as we can see on our end,” Moric said, noting […] Read more

Newer and better malt varieties starting to get some love
Maltsters still smitten with the old standards but the future belongs to new varieties
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s a slow process to get international maltsters to accept new barley varieties, partly because of unfamiliarity and partly because farmers aren’t growing enough of them. “They do prefer what they know, which are varieties like AC Metcalfe and CDC Copeland,” said Peter Watts, managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. “But a […] Read more