UK: Barley prospects are better this year

The prospects for malting barley growers in Scotland appear better than for many years, but farmers will have to take care in selecting the correct variety, Business Scotsman published January 26.

Last year's harvest resulted in mixed quality and lower yields pointing to a possible shortfall of malting for the distilling industry, which utilises between 500,000 tonnes and 700,000 tonnes each year, depending on the level of stocks in store. World stocks of quality barley are reported to be at the lowest level in living memory.

However, the reality is that a sizeable number of farmers who previously grew malting barley have switched to winter wheat and other crops in the face of miserable returns, despite the fact that Scotland can grow some of the best malting barley in the world. Prices at the start of the 2006 harvest were little better than £80 per tonne, but contracts in excess of £100 per tonne are currently being offered for the 2007 crop.

Lee Robinson, the cereals product manager with the plant breeders Nickerson, speaking in Edinburgh, commented: "The prospects are much better, with a demand for three million tonnes from Australia to China. But the market will still be subject to volatility. There is likely to be more spring barley planted In France this year, so Scottish growers should concentrate on doing what they are best at - producing for the distilling industry.

"The brewing market north of the Border is static, with only one major plant left. The choice of variety is important and it looks as through availability of seed may be tight. The main variety in Scotland for several years now has been Optic, but it is tending to become outclassed and is due for replacement."

Nickerson has two new varieties on the market, with Oxbridge appearing to offer considerable potential in Scotland, according to Mark Glew, the company's senior barley breeder.

He said: "Oxbridge has excellent disease resistance without compromising on yield. It has no weaknesses. It was first recommended in 2005 and gained full approval on the list last year and has performed well both in trials and on farms. In fact it is a very simple variety for farmers to grow."

Another variety from Nickerson, which looks to have a sound future, is Appaloosa. It has been provisionally approved by the Institute of Brewers and Distillers and its agronomics are very similar to Optic. The outstanding feature of Appaloosa is its exceptional spirit yield.

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