E-Malt.com News article: 2840

Sweden: Swedish barley forecast for the 2004 malting barley crop is positive and optimistic, according to Viking Malt reports. The estimate shows a steady increase in malting barley supply in Sweden. Crop 2003 resulted in approximately 390,000 tonnes of malting barley. The forecast for crop 2004 shows an increase of about 40,000 tonnes and a total crop of about 430,000 tonnes (screened and ready for delivery to the maltings).

Looking at the specific varieties for crop 2004 Barke (130,000 tonnes) is still number one followed by Pasadena (105,000 tonnes), Astoria (100,000 tonnes) and Prestige (75,000 tonnes). These varieties have kept their order of precedence but have changed their total share. The main changes are: Barke has lost about 14% share from 2003 till 2004, a share that represents approximately 40,000 tonnes. Astoria, the main variety in the central part of Sweden, went from 18% to 25%, an increase corresponding about 30,000 tonnes. Prestige gained 10% and approximately 43,000 tonnes. Jersey has been added as a newcomer.

On the development side a lot of work is put down in finding new varieties that are suitable for the Swedish conditions. Several varieties are tested in production scale for malting and brewing qualities before approval as a malting barley variety. For crop 2004 the new varieties Power (DK), Sebastian (DK) and Catriona (SE) will be tested in full-scale maltings if the harvest is favourable. The actual sowing started already in the middle of March in the most southern parts of Sweden. The rest of the country will follow in April and in the beginning of May.


25 June, 2004