TheUKwinter malting barley is all but complete and can be described as very good quality and yielding above average, reportsStuart Shand, Gleadell Agriculture’s sales director. We have seen very little protein above 11.5%, while colour and grain size is excellent.

Winter Barley Sample averages off the combine:

Cassata 1.58 Nitrogen 9.87% protein 94% retained

Flagon 1.61 Nitrogen 10.01% protein 92% retained

Pearl 1.67 Nitrogen 10.43% protein 96% retained

Turning to the spring malting barley harvest, Mr Shand noted that it was again a stop start affair due to rain but, fortunately, not all areas were affected. The weather has been better in the last few days, and spring barley harvest ranges from 80% complete in the South East and East Anglia to 65% complete in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Apart from the South West, the spring barleys are of good colour, low protein and are yielding very well. The first barleys in the Borders are also very good.”

Spring Barley Sample averages off the combine:

Quench 14.40% Moisture 1.64 Nitrogen 10.25% protein 92% retained

Tipple 14.15% Moisture 1.56 Nitrogen 9.75% protein 93% retained

Optic 14.66% Moisture 1.55 Nitrogen 9.68% protein 93% retained

Overall, on paper, there will be a surplus of approximately 300,000t, although a lot has already had to be moved for feed due to no malting home being available. Lack of homes and no premium for winter malting barley is leading to growers switching into feed barley for this autumn plantings. We expect the winter malting barley area to be significantly reduced this next season, harvest 2010, Mr Shand adds.