Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers with barley in the bin have a bit of a love-hate relationship with barley prices right now. They love that feed prices are so high, but hate that malt prices are so low. “These prices are definitely something — to have feed prices where they’re at right now, it’s definitely out of the norm,” […] Read more

Feed barley prices beating out malt
Demand is strong for both feed and malt, but there’s plenty of the latter sitting in warehouses and bins

Downturn seen in organic markets for malt barley, hemp
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
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

Trying to grow malt barley can make you cry in your beer
There’s way more money in malt than feed, but just 20 per cent of growers capture 80 per cent of malt sales
Reading Time: 4 minutes Kevin Sich thinks malt barley could give canola a run for its money any day of the week — even if market share doesn’t reflect that. “Malt barley is probably one of your most profitable crops. Return on investment is probably very strong,” said Sich, Rahr Malting’s grain department manager. “But if malt barley is […] Read more

Malting barley production down, quality up
Western Canada’s barley acres continue to fall, but malting barley quality was excellent
Reading Time: < 1 minute There was less malt barley produced this year but what did come off looked good, according to the Canadian Grain Commission. The organization’s 2017 Quality of Western Canadian Malting Barley report noted lower production, less acres, and a yield decrease, but high kernel weights and plumpness across the Prairies. Alberta and northeastern B.C. (the two […] Read more

New technology poised to give barley a boost
Researchers aim to breed barley tailored to very specific needs
Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s a bright future for boring old barley. Aside from malt, barley doesn’t generate a lot of excitement for Prairie grain growers — something you can see in acreage figures (which have fallen by more than a third in Alberta and by nearly half in Western Canada during the past decade). But new technology is […] Read more

Malt barley outlook promising, but harvest quality will be key
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
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

Recommended malting varieties list released
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre has released its annual list of recommended malt barley varieties. The list represents varieties that the centre recommends based on the greatest potential for performance, quality, and marketability. The recommendations are published annually with input from grain companies, domestic and international maltsters and brewers, grower associations as well as […] Read more

Malt barley market weaker with increased supplies
CNS Canada — Despite reports of quality issues this year, malt barley prices are soft, as increased quantity put a damper on the market. Spot malt barley prices are about $4.75-$4.85 per bushel in Western Canada, Prairie Ag Hotwire data said, which compares with last year’s harvest prices of about $5.25-$5.75. “We do have a […] Read more