Germany: Winter and spring malting barley yields well despite negative preconditions

Industry and trade had been very reserved about crop prospects in Germany, planting had been late, weather had not been ideal, and fields looked thin. However, winter barley results are reported to be good.

This year the supply of domestic two-row winter malting barley may reach 150,000 tons. Unexpectedly, yields and grain size of spring barley harvested in the southwest and south of the Danube were good as well, albeit with variable protein contents from 10 to 13 %.

It is now estimated that the barley crop in the North and East will also be better than forecast, although some quantities will be down-graded to feed barley because of high protein.

Altogether Germany expects deliveries of 1.6 mln tons of spring plus 150,000 tons of winter malting barley, cutting down the import deficit to 700,000 tons.

14 August, 2008