USA: Barley production set to hit another historic low this year

Barley production in the United States is set to hit another historic low in 2025, tightening supply for maltsters and brewers. The latest USDA data, shared by the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA), shows planted acres and expected harvest numbers continuing a downward slide, Craft Brewing Business reported on August 13.

As of the August USDA Crop Production Report, total planted barley area stands at a record low 2.28 million acres — down 6% from the June Acreage report and 4% from 2024. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 1.81 million acres, the smallest since 1875 if realized. Production is projected at 141 million bushels, down 2% from last year. Yields are expected to average 77.9 bushels per acre, 1.2 bushels higher than 2024. Despite the slight yield increase, total supply remains constrained. Several states, including California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, are reporting record-low planted areas. New York’s harvested area will also hit a record low if forecasts hold.

In July, USDA predicted 148 million bushels of barley production, a 3% increase from 2024, with yields at 77.1 bushels per acre. That forecast assumed 1.92 million acres harvested for grain, unchanged from June but 2% above 2024. Colorado, Idaho, and North Dakota were expected to hit record yields. Still, crop condition ratings told a more cautious story — only 43% of barley acreage was rated good to excellent at the end of June, down 21 points from the same time in 2024.

The June Acreage and Stocks reports indicated that producers seeded 2.42 million acres of barley in 2025, up 2% from 2024. Montana, the top barley state, bucked the trend with a 16% drop in acreage. Barley stocks on June 1 totaled 69.5 million bushels, down 11% from a year earlier. On-farm stocks fell 28%, while off-farm stocks dropped 2%. Disappearance from March through May was 33.4 million bushels, slightly lower than the same period in 2024.

Lower barley acreage and shrinking stocks put pressure on malt supplies. Even with higher yields in some regions, total U.S. production remains historically low. For craft brewers, this can mean:

Tighter malt contracts — securing supply early will be key.
Price volatility — smaller harvests can push malt prices higher.
Greater import reliance — domestic shortages may drive more imported malt use, but tariffs may affect price
Quality variability – weather and regional acreage shifts can affect malt specs.