Australian Barley Harvest – Crop Report – 2022

The Australian harvest this year has been an interesting one for all involved. At each different stage there has been a different set of emotions and from a grower perspective it’s hard to argue that climate change isn’t affecting the weather patterns right now! On the east coast they stared at a record yielding harvest only to be caught on the end of large amounts of rain and flooding during late maturity, but all was not lost when the grain hit the bin. For majority they found the grain had withstood the weather. Unprecedented!

NSW unfortunately has seen large amounts of damage and cropping area lost due to flooding and torrential rain. Qld and Victoria however, the crop survived a large amount of rain to still produce large amounts of good quality barley. For those interested in the numbers, the barley crop in Victoria is expected to produce 3.25 million tons this year, which is an exceptional achievement. Our growers in Victoria are really hitting their stride, with many putting in on farm- storage and investing in their own trucks to become their own supply chain. As a maltster we couldn’t be happier with this trend as it shortens the supply chain and provides great traceability.

Of the main varieties in the market, Spartacus and Maximus withstood the weather the best, showing consistent results compared to previous years. We’ll have a range of trail varieties come through the plant, as we continue the search for a variety than can provide a better brewer experience, that is performing agronomically in the field.

On the global stage we are starting to get used to the new political stage we find ourselves in, with many overcoming covid and the labor shortages that followed. Our politicians are talking trade again with our counterparts in Central Asia and world supply chains are finding ways in and around the war in Ukraine.

At Malteurop we are excited by the opportunities available in the future and look forward to providing the market with high quality, consistent malt, sourced from a loyal base of high-quality growers.

Eric Fisher
Malteurop Australia and New Zealand.

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Malteurop Australia – Victoria Select - The Farmer’s Maltster – Victorian Select Premium Pilsner Malt is available for immediate online order and delivery to Australian Craft Brewers and Craft Distillers.  Sign up for a wholesale/trade account online here: https://beerco.com.au/pages/trade-accounts

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