World: World barley acreage forecast to increase by 3.4% in 2009

Informa Economics forecasts that world barley acreage will be increased to 56.8 mln ha in 2009, Zerno Online reported on December, 9.

The area planted to the cereal was 54.9 mln ha in 2008.

The EU nations are forecast to grow barley on 14.0 mln ha (14.5 mln ha in 2008), Russia – 9.5 mln ha (9.7 mln ha in 2008), Ukraine – on 4.2 mln ha (4.1 mln ha in 2008).

Australia is expected to increase its barley planted area to 4.5 mln ha (from 4.2 mln ha in 2008).

Canada’s barley acreage will remain on 3.5 mln ha as in 2008, Informa Economics states.

According to industry sources, German and Scandinavian farmers will reduce their spring barley plantings in 2009, but prospects in France and the U.K. are for larger barley acres.

The real situation will clarify in spring, still high seed and fertilizer prices, the credit squeeze, and the general economic recession make forecasts even more difficult than in former years, analysts comment.

12 December, 2008