Malting barley producers say they’ve been kicked in the teeth yet again with confirmation by maltsters of the £130/tonne “open market” element of this year’s contract price.
Simpsons, Crisp Malt and Diageo have all announced their prices, with only Bairds left to confirm what it will pay once harvest is complete.
With the feed barley price at £125 – or more in some cases – growers say the effort that goes into producing malting quality is not being recognised by maltsters or distillers who gain international kudos for the provenance of their Scottish raw ingredients.
Yields have been high, and rejections because of “quality issues” have been growing in recent days, with one merchant accepting only six out of 22 loads of barley contracted for malting.
The fear is that with stores bursting with this year’s harvest combined with significant stocks held over from last year and the prospect of tighter Covid-19 restrictions for the hospitality sector, demand and prices for the product will remain low next year.
Donald Ross, a past chairman of Highland Grain and a former YEN competition winner, said he and many other producers had decided to turn over a significant proportion of their planned spring barley acreage to growing wheat this autumn, as they couldn’t foresee any upturn in returns.
“Every year the maltsters talk up prices, but we’ve been kicked in the teeth again, and farmers are getting frustrated with growing a premium product and getting no recognition for it,” he said.
“I can sell wheat on the futures market for November 2021 at £160/tonne, and even with extra growing, drying and storage costs, it makes more sense.”
Scottish Agronomy director Eric Anderson confirmed many growers will take advantage of the scrapping of the three-crop rule to maximise their wheat acreage this autumn. He said: “The talk in both (barley and oat) markets is of a significant reduction in demand for 2021 harvest and growers are being advised to seek alternatives.
“The obvious choice is winter wheat as it offers the most attractive gross margin potential.”
Maltsters refused to comment on the record, but one said: “Farmers always want to blame someone else, but barley is a global commodity and there’s just too much around at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Simpsons Malt, which purchases more than 150,000 tonnes of barley each year from 456 Scottish growers, has announced plans to build a new maltings facility at Rothes in Moray.
Simpsons already runs maltings in Berwick-upon-Tweed and Tivetshall St Margaret, Norfolk.
Simpsons said the creation of a new Speyside facility would bring it closer to some of its distilling customers in the region, which include those producing the Macallan, Glenrothes and Glenfarclas whiskies.
“I am delighted to announce that we have entered into this agreement,
which aligns with the company’s long-term strategic objectives,” said Simpsons Malt managing director Tim McCreath.
“Having a maltings and malting barley storage facility in Speyside is something we have given serious thought to for a number of years and, subject to planning and due diligence, we will begin construction when the time is right and demand is there from our customers.”
He said the location of the new maltings, which will include malting barley storage facilities, would bring logistical benefits to the company, while also helping it reduce its carbon footprint.
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
