Canada & USA: Barley harvest in full swing, quality results variable so far

The first forecast of the barley crop by Canada Statistics is 7.212 mln tonnes vs 8.784 mln last year. H. M. Gauger GmbH and other analysts believe the estimate is too low.

IGC has reduced its U.S. crop estimate to 2.8 mln tonnes (last year 4.3 mln tonnes).

Harvest is in full swing in both countries. The southern parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and the large parts of North Dakota and Montana report low yields, thin barley and high protein. But Northeast Dakota, Minnesota and the larger parts of the Canadian Prairies expect fair crops with a good selection of malting barley.

Most likely Canada can export around half a million tonnes to China again; in 2016/17 shipments to China even amounted to 980,000 tonnes of feed and malting barley.