Spring Barley report Europe
In parts of Great Britain, in Slovakia, in France and in Austria the sowing of spring barley is most advanced by the end of March of 2010. Because of the long winter and the continuing bad weather afterwards, the work had to start some days later in some regions. Nevertheless the sowing was almost everywhere on time. Like every year at that time, the sowing hasn´t started yet in the north of Europe.
As expected, the acreage has been partially restricted. There are still great uncertainties about the final acreage in the single countries. The main reason for the reduction are the low prices for brewing barley. That is why the acreage of the winter crop was extended. The largest acreage that got restricted is in Great Britain. The reason for this restriction is, that in 2009 the acreage for summer seed got extended because the wet autumn made it impossible to sow winter crops.
In France the market experts describe the conditions during the sowing and the development of the plants as satisfying. The soil moisture in Spain was regarded as excellent. In Great Britain the weather conditions are ranging from wet to dry at the moment. Even if the seed beds were good, the soil temperatures were described as very cold. There are no reports about the current condition of the sowing.
In the eastern parts of Europe, the sowing has also already started and even processed pretty far in some parts. Because of the varying soil conditions in the Czech Republic, the sowing conditions also vary. While in Moravia – in the east of the country – the sowing has already been partly completed, the work in the middle of the Czech Republic started at the beginning of April. In Slovakia it looks almost the same. The assessments about the reduction of acreage go from 35-50 %. In Poland and in Hungary the sowing has also started. We also expect a smaller acreage for spring barley in these parts of Europe, partially up to 50 percent. The same goes for Russia. There is no spring barley sowed in Russia yet.
Spring barley in Europe 2010
(data: March 2010)
| Country | Acreage 2009 | Acreage 2010 | Varieties |
| in 1000 ha | in 1000 ha (est.) | (in percent, if specified) | |
| Denmark | 455 | 425 | Quench (55), NFC Tipple (25), Power (10), Sebastian, Publican, Prestige, Henley (10) |
| Germany | 434 | 350-390 | Marthe, Quench, Braemar, Belana, Annabell, Streif |
| Finland | 600 | No results yet | No results yet |
| France | 550 | 430 | No results yet |
| UK | 751 | England/Wales: 250; Scotland: 225 | England: NFC Tipple(70- 90 ), Quench(10-20), Concerto, Optic, Propino; Scotland: Optic, Oxbridge, Propino, Concerto |
| Ireland | 155 | 140-145 | Sebastian (35), Cocktail(30), Prestige (15), Azalea (10) |
| Netherlands | 40 | 34 | Prestige, NFC Tipple, Class, Quench |
| Austria | 94 | 80-85 | Xanadu, Signora Marthe, Class, Victoriana, Vivaldi, Quench , Bodega, Bojos |
| Sweden | 368 | 280 | NFC Tipple, Quench |
| Slovakia | 179 | 120-140 | Ebson (20–25), Sebastian(20-25), Malz (25) Prestige (15), Kangoo (5) |
| Spain | 2.500 | 2.470 | No results yet |
| Czech Republic | 320 | 280-300 | Sebastian (25-30), Prestige (15-20), Malz (20-23), Bojos (10), Xanadu (10), Kangoo (approx. 5) |
| Hungary | 126 | 80-100 | Scarlett, Pasadena, Xanadu |
| Poland | 930 | 900 | Xanadu, Quench, Prestige, Sebastian, NFC Tipple, Beatrix, Marthe |
| Russia | 9.200 | 8.500 | Scarlett (14), Xanadu(13), Annabel (9), Marnie (6), Pasadena(6), Josefine(5) |
