Malting barley report Europe: Difficult supply from 2010 harvest
The weather conditions this year had a substantial effect on the spring barley throughout Europe. The harvest is going to be smaller than it was expected. There are going to be problems with the crops that were harvested late. One will probably expect a shortage with malting barley in Europe next year at the latest.
In France, the harvest was already completed a couple of weeks ago with good qualities. The protein content varies quite a bit, but the grain is denoted as satisfactory. Still, acreage and yield are lower than they were last year.
In Scandinavia the first results were determined as very good as well. Meanwhile the work is interrupted again and again by rainfall. Germination is expected. The expectation regarding the barley that has not been harvested yet is not very high. Only 40 percent of the goods have been harvested.
In Sweden, 60 percent of the harvest has already been brought in. But market observers also worry about the quality of the grain that hasn`t been harvested yet. The yield stays beneath last year`s results.
In Finland, market participants are also expecting a smaller amount of harvest. Furthermore, the quality varies quite a bit, especially with higher protein contents. However, 75 percent of the harvest was already brought in.
In UK one has to differentiate: In England, 90 percent of the barley has already been harvested. The quality seems to be excellent. Merely 10 percent to 15 percent are expected to be marbled. In Scotland, on the other hand, only 20 percent to 30 percent have been harvested. The qualities were higher than expected until it rained in the mid of August. With the increase of rainfalls these values are questioned more and more.
In the Netherlands the harvest has been brought in almost completely. The quality of the barley is good throughout.
The east and the south-east of Europe have special problems with the quality this year. Austria and Hungary report weak yield and qualities. Poland also has problems with the screening. In the Czech Republic, 50 percent of the harvest wasn´t harvested by the mid of August, in Slovakia it was 15 percent. Heavy rainfall in the past couple of days were responsible for the fact that this year`s harvest was not satisfactory. Yield losses, germination, low screening and weak protein values lower the harvest results tremendously. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have a demand for imports.
Spring barley harvested in the last couples of days in Germany will not be able to be brewed. The Braugerstengemeinschaft e.V., München, reported that germination and high protein values characterize the harvest. 20 percent of the entire harvest in Germany could be affected. Until the heavy rainfall in Germany, the qualities and quantities had been good. The expected amount of harvest was 1 Mio. t. of brewing barley with good quality. Because of the small acreage and the effects of the drought during the grain- filling phase, the expected amount could be reduced due to the weather conditions in the past couple of days.
