United Kingdom: Malting barley growers should be aiming for the actual output plus a bit more - expert

With a UK market for organic malting barley of around 4,000 tonnes per annum, growers should be aiming for that plus a bit more, malting barley expert and grain merchant Robin Appel, was quoted as saying by Farmers Guardian on July, 23.

The malting market is a challenging one to produce for, with low nitrogen being a common cause of rejection. Last season total production was between 10,000 and 12,000 tonnes “but we still didn’t end up with enough,” said Mr. Appel.

Some 3,000 tonnes of organic malting barley was used in the UK and a further 1,000 tonnes exported to Belgium and Germany. “Our UK malting barleys are regarded as some of the best in the world but we have competition from Denmark in particular and growers need to be aware of that,” said Mr. Appel.

According to Mr. Appel, contracts are key to organic malting barley production in terms of managing the volume and specification of barley produced.

Quench is the current variety of choice. Maltsters demand a low nitrogen content – 1.5 per cent - but not as low as the 1.1 per cent typical of many organic crops.

The best slot for organic malting barley was behind a first wheat. “I don’t think you should go beyond this,” said Mr. Appel.

23 July, 2010