UK: Scotland’s malting barley crop smaller and of lower quality than in 2011

Despite a larger planted area, Scotland will produce a malting barley crop considerably smaller and of lower quality than 2011.

Concerns over the final size of the crop are such that a considerable quantity of imported malting barley (mainly ex Denmark) has been contracted for shipment to maltings and stores in Central/Southern Scotland and the Borders, Crisp Maltings said in a report earlier this week.

With strong incentives for UK growers to plant wheat and/or rapeseed for the 2013 harvest, they note that "we can only expect a considerable reduction in EU malting barley production next year, nor are we going to be able to rely on a large carryover of crop 2012 barley in France and Scandinavia."

28 September, 2012