The first barley off combines in Western Canada tends to have the lightest test weights.
But this year, there seem to be more reports than usual of light barley coming off fields.
With harvest 15 to 25 percent complete last week, analyst Greg Kostal of Pro Farmer Canada said it’s too early to ring any alarm bells. But an analyst with United Grain Growers estimates a quarter to one-third of the barley crop will weigh in at a paltry 40 to 44 pounds.
Jerry Klassen of UGG’s Growers Marketing Service said harvested barley is coming in at moisture levels between six and eight percent.
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“It basically dried itself ripe,” he said, explaining kernels are small and slim because there wasn’t enough moisture to fill them out.
Paul Cassidy, analyst with Mitcon Inc. in Calgary, has heard reports of 34-lb. barley in southern Alberta, 46-lb. barley around Saskatoon and 51-lb. barley around Calgary.
Protein levels seem to be low, he said, which will be a mitigating factor for maltsters.
The Canadian Wheat Board is reluctant to comment on barley test weights until it receives information in November from the Canadian Grain Commission harvest survey.
But board spokesperson Deanna Allen acknowledged low test weights could be a problem because of hot weather when kernels were filling out.
“Crops were burning instead of turning,” she said.
But she added U.S. barley producers are finding their barley is also light and has high protein levels. This could be a boon to Canadian farmers, since U.S. maltsters are the main buyerz for six-row malting barley grown here.
Top areas mediocre
A spokesperson for the North Dakota Barley Council said barley quality is variable in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, the most important barley production area of the United States.
John Mittleider said crops from the eastern part of the region had higher levels of thin kernels, while the western half saw one of its best quality crops in recent memory.
Klassen said farmers have a better chance of having their barley selected for malting this year, providing they meet minimum quality standards.
Maltsters look for good color, protein levels under 11 percent, bushel weights of at least 48 lb., and plumpness of at least 85 percent.
Klassen said growers with malting barley held from last year should submit samples again. If rejected, he said it may pay to store the barley and submit the samples again later in the crop year.
But Kostal said there will be plenty of barley available from the total crop of more than 12 million tonnes for maltsters to select.
He noted good harvest weather so far will ensure barley is not weathered or bleached.
