Finland: The new estimate of Finnish 2004 crop is 220,000 tonnes of screened malting barley, about 50,000 tonnes more than in 2003, Viking Malt has recently written in a press release. Viking Malt’s early forecast for the Finnish 2004 crop showed an increase in the area used for malting barley cultivation to around 145,000 ha (about 6,000 ha increase) and also an increased crop compared to last year. The first indications after harvest show the same pattern.

In Finland the harvest began later than normal and was not completed until beginning of September. Major varieties are Scarlett, Saana and Barke. The demand of Finland in malting barley is about 240,000 tonnes in 2004, no changes compared to 2003.

20 October, 2004