Good harvest outlook for spring barley despite regional drought

The main areas for growing spring barley in Europe were able to start vegetation under favorable conditions. In Central Europe, yield losses due to drought can be expected, but the supply is still supposed to be good.

In France there is talk of good conditions for spring barley at the moment. A significant drought does not exist. However, rainfalls would help to achieve the optimum yield potential. Some precipitation is expected for the beginning of June. In the UK, the grain has initially developed well. Cool and dry weather from mid to late April and early May has hampered further development. On the whole, however, no complaints were mentioned so far. The disease pressure is low. In Denmark no drought was reported. Sufficient moisture causes good-looking stocks. In Sweden, some areas suffer from the large rainfall immediately after sowing in May. Finnish farmers have not been able to complete the sowing until early June. Rains have also hampered the work here again and again. The sowing was at least delayed by one to two weeks. The high humidity could have an impact on crop and fertilization and does not constitute a good start for the seed. Due to difficult sowing conditions, farmers have often chosen feed barley varieties.

According to Braugerstengemeinschaft e.V. , Munich, a good tillering and a good growth could be achieved in Germany by mid- May, although below average rainfall and cool temperatures in the North-East first led to slow growth of the seed. For early June, yield losses of 10 to 15 percent have been expected due to the ongoing drought in some provinces. Irrigation areas are not affected. In the Netherlands a delayed vegetation due to the cold weather was reported. Problems with disease do not exist.

In Austria crop suffers under continuing drought and the current hot temperatures, mainly in the main production areas. In the Czech Republic, the area of spring barley has been extended due to difficult conditions in the autumn sowing. Early sown stocks and plants on light sandy soils are currently flowering. Later sowings and stocks on heavier soils have reached the status of heading. There are local problems with dryness. But the situation is not yet dramatic. The yield expectations are considered good average in most growing regions. The spring barley in Slovakia has been sowed without any delays. The rainfall in April amounted to only 18 mm. 15 percent of the area is already designated as damaged because of the drought. In Poland, the seed level is regarded as not optimal, but still average. After a good start in sowing the soil moisture was too low and the weather too dry. The growing conditions in Hungary are also to be regarded as not optimal. Below-average rainfall could cause yield reductions there. The acreage in Russia was reduced because of lower profits and the export tax. The rainfall in May was lower than the average.

Overall, the supply of European malting barley seems to be sufficient from today’s perspective. Acreage restrictions in some countries are compensated by a greater cultivation in other regions. Market participants are expecting a surplus from this year’s harvest. The malting barley market has started moving a little bit due to the current volatility in wheat on the international markets. In addition, the regional drought has led to a little bit more activity regarding trade and the industry.