World: Barley crop forecast down to 150.8 mln tonnes
Global barley crop forecast is down by a further 3 mln tonnes to 150.8 mln this month, which represents an overall 8 mln tonnes reduction from the crop 2020 production level, with a majority of the drop coming from the Big Six producing nations (Argentina, Australia, Canada, EU, Ukraine, Russia), RMI Analytics said in their late August report.
The ending stocks level is also expected to drop to the lowest in seven years.
Final quality and the proportion of selectable malting barley is being challenged by weather events: in Europe, rains have been impacting the remaining crops to be harvested with some potential to reduce quality. In Canada, the drought conditions have been well publicised and this past week rain showers have fallen on a mature crop with harvest ready to advance.