barley acres

[glenn_thomson]

I'm curious about what are farmers going to do about barley acres next year? In particular, what about the acres targetted to malt barley? Of the barley acres grown, will many still try for malt, or is this the year more farmers might grow just for the feed market? Your thoughts? What do you plan to do with barley, as compared to this year?

[glenn_thomson]

As to your question of upcoming barley. At our farm we will be cutting back our acres of barley to 160. This is an irrigated piece that we will be selling to a local feedlot. There is'nt enough money in the barley at this time even though we have 70 or 80 thousand head of cattle on feed in our area. Rotations on our farm are allowing more acres of canola this year which will take the place of the barley.

[glenn_thomson]

My thoughts are barley acreage down 5 to 10 % this spring with the main losses in the traditional malt barley growing regions. The reasons are the same ones Daryl outlined - poor profitability relative to other cropping alternatives. The crops increasing will be prairie spring wheats and canola. This has potential to make the barley market very interesting in 99/00. In 98/99, western Canada will consume over 90 % of the barley we grew domestically with the 10 % remaining exported as malt barley seed. What happens if we drop acres by 10 %? What happens if yields are down due to weather problems? Will 99/00 be the year western Canada turns into a feed deficit region? That is, we don't produce enough feed to satisfy demand in our local livestock markets and have to import from the US. The feed grain pricing situation going into the next crop year has potential to change dramatically.

[sumdumguy]

My thoughts are barley acreage down 5 to 10 % this spring with the main losses in the traditional malt barley growing regions. The reasons are the same ones Daryl outlined - poor profitability relative to other cropping alternatives. The crops increasing will be prairie spring wheats and canola. This has potential to make the barley market very interesting in 99/00. In 98/99, western Canada will consume over 90 % of the barley we grew domestically with the 10 % remaining exported as malt barley seed. What happens if we drop acres by 10 %? What happens if yields are down due to weather problems? Will 99/00 be the year western Canada turns into a feed deficit region? That is, we don't produce enough feed to satisfy demand in our local livestock markets and have to import from the US. The feed grain pricing situation going into the next crop year has potential to change dramatically.

Where is the traditionsl malt barley growing region?

[bigzee]

Barley is one of the worst crops to have grown this yr, in these drought conditions. It will be light weight and no plumpness. Maybe maltsters won't be so picky. Then again that can said about all cereals.

[fjlip]

Lots of 100 bu malt coming here...IF no FROST/HAIL/WIND to lodge it.

[danny W1M]

bigZ, you forgot to mention the extra high protein that'll be in this years barley crop too.

[bigzee]

I was just going to add the high protein aspect.
FJLIP you are fortunate to be living in a garden.
Down here in the Sahara we are just hoping to get some good quality to make up for a huge yield deficit.

[TASFarms]

Wow that thread goes back a few years 1999

[farmaholic]

Career circus lions have to jump through fewer flaming hoops than malt barley farmers do!!!

There is good money in malt barley with high yields and decent quality.

It's just that here in the Slum of the Ghetto, dryer conditions and our topography aren't conducive to quality malt. That's my problem, those that have good odds and luck should grow it. I think it is kind of a niche market.

What percentage of barley grown for malt is actually accepted?

Like everyone else said, between light weight, thin, high protein and staging issues, I can't see any making malt in the dry areas of Western Canada.

This is going to create a backlash.... The saddest part is when Producers deliver accepted malt barley and are told, for a multitude of possible reasons, that it didn't make it. Sorry, if it was me, that barley would be turned and checked and if they said bring it....IT'S MALT!!!! Way too many games once it's in their bin. Fire away!