USA: Barley, corn and soybeans appear to be the big losers in crop acreage in North Dakota for the upcoming growing season, according to the first Planting Intentions Report, which was released by USDA on March 31.

Barley producers are slashing almost half a million acres from last year's plantings. The USDA estimates 1.2 million acres of barley will be seeded in North Dakota, down from 1.6 million acres last year.

Nationwide, barley acreage is expected to fall by 12 percent to 3.97 million acres.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .