Heterogeneous harvest of spring barley in Europe

In Europe grew a very heterogeneous harvest of spring barley this year. Big differences in quality and quantity characterize the year. The supply could be short.

Especially Western Europe was concerned by weather conditions. The drought in spring led to small yields and therefore often to high protein values. France and Germany are concerned eminently. The screening on the other hand was very good. France is expecting a surplus of spring barley in the amount of 1.2 to 1.4 m t.

In Germany a discussion started about the availability of barley that can be used as malting barley. The regional differences in qualities vary a lot. The barley in the south-west of Germany along the Rhine and in Franken has very high protein values. The results for protein are higher than 12 percent most of the time. Compromises are being negotiated. There are no complains about quality and yield in northern Germany, Thuringia, Saxony and parts of Bavaria. Rainfalls caused some troubles with qualities in the later summer. The amount of quality malting barley depends on the acceptance of maltsters and brewers. It is expected to be lower than 1 m t.

There are reports of big regional differences in Great Britain as well. In the east of Britain high protein values were reported. In the south, the protein values are as high as the average values from the last years. 10 percent still needs to be harvested. The high protein values of the winter brewing barley can also influence the market. In Scotland, only 30 percent is harvested yet. Good qualities are expected, even though the rainfalls could cause some troubles. Ireland reports a good impression of the harvest.

Because of all these problems everyone has high hopes in Denmark this year. These hopes were fulfilled until the rain in August. Low protein values and high screening values characterized the harvest. But rainfalls downgraded the qualities. 200,000 to 300,000 t of barley could end as animal food. 20 percent of the acreage still needs to be cleared. In Finland and in Sweden, the harvest is not over as well. Around 20 to 30 percent is still on the fields. Huge regional differences can be noticed here as well. In Sweden, the fear of pre-germination and fusarium exists.

In eastern Europe including Austria a good yield is expected. In the Czech Republic they have the highest yield since 1990. The other quality features were also very good. In regions with high rainfalls, fusarium is not impossible. It´s the same in the Slovak Republic. Nevertheless, qualities are better than in 2010. In Austria, it was the best harvest since 2008. In Hungary, there is also the talk of very high differences. In Poland exists no consensus about quality. In spite of difficult weather conditions the harvest seems to be a little better than last year. Nevertheless the qualities are considered critically by some people.

Even though not the entire yield is completed, insufficient qualities cause problems. If maltsters and brewers insist on their claims regarding the protein, the supply in Europe will be critical.