Spring Barley Report Europe

In France, Spain and for a large part also in UK, the sowing of spring barley ended at the end of March. In many other countries of Europe the work couldn’t be done because of the wet and cold weather. At the beginning of April with warm and dry weather, there is a good possibility to do the sowing. Larger effects because of the delay are not expected.

Especially in Denmark, Finland and Sweden the sowing couldn`t begin. In Denmark spring weather is starting at the beginning of April, but in Finland the work can`t start before the end of April or beginning of May, like every year. In France and Spain on the other hand the sowing was done between November and March. Also in UK the work was done mostly in March. In Scotland the sowing isn`t done on many fields, but now with better weather, they can do the work. Less than ten percent of the fields are done in the Netherlands and Poland. A little bit more was done in Austria at the end of March. But also here they are 14 days delay. Four weeks later than 2008 the farmer in the Czech Republic and in the Slovak Republic could begin with the sowing. Nevertheless there is no doubt about a good growing.

The spring barley areas, especially in Germany could only be prepared in patches. The delay in the sowing was caused by the wintry weather which still appeared at the end of March. Till the end of March there was only 20 to 60 % of the expected area sown in the most part of Germany´s spring barley regions. Because of the outstanding sowing conditions in the autumn of 2008 for winter grain and the regressing producer price for brewing barley, experts fear a decrease in Bavaria and parts of Sachsen for spring barley in Germany.