Canada: Barley crops partially affected by snow and ice at harvest time

60% of Alberta and 30% of Saskatchewan barley crops were affected badly by snow and ice at harvest time, H. M. Gauger GmbH reported at the beginning of December.

In Western Canada, malting varieties represented 56% of the barley plantings, but only 28% of selected barley after harvest, i.e. 2.150 mln tonnes. (These numbers were calculated on the basis of selected samples and do not represent the commercial purchases of barley, the analysts pointed out). The figures almost match Canadian malting barley consumption and reported 800,000 tonnes shipped to China.

Industries are apprehensive of germination problems later in the year, local sources said.

The Lethbridge feed barley market at the beginning of December stood at C$200.50 vs. 173,- a year ago. Nominal quotes of malting barley FOB Vancouver were around USD320,-, however, both barley acquisition and available port capacities make new export sales difficult or even unlikely.

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