Germany
May 28, 2015
Download Crop Report No. 2 German 2015 Spring Barley
In conjunction with the Board Meeting of the Braugersten-Gemeinschaft e.V. (German Malting Barley Association) in Einbeck, in the state of Lower Saxony, the Association has released its second malting barley crop report for 2015. The report is based on surveys conducted by the regional malting barley associations in the different German states.
All aggregate figures for areas under cultivation are expert estimates at this time. They are derived from planting data, propagation data for 2014, and various local field surveys.
The spring barley acreage under cultivation in Germany, in 2015, is approximately 360,000 hectares (ha) compared to 347,000 ha in 2014. This amounts to an increase of 4%. Most of this growth occurred in Lower Saxony, where barley plantings increased by 26% over the previous year. The reasons for the increase in acreage are mostly government-support greening measures, as well as make-up acreages resulting from a reduction in winter crop plantings.
Spring barley plantings in 2015 started in early to mid-March. Soil conditions were favorable. The fields were dry and contained adequate residual moisture for homogeneous early growth patterns.
Subsequently, there was sufficient precipitation for continued even plant development in the southwest of Germany. In the northeast of the country, however, insufficient precipitation, cool daytime temperatures, and cold nights—all of which lasted until about Easter—resulted in a slowdown of plant development there.
The situation changed for the better in the first week of May, when warmer temperatures in the entire country and sufficient amounts of rain allowed the plants to catch up, where needed. As a result, by the second half of May, all fields were covered with dense growth and plant development was at an optimum for this time of year.
Another positive effect of the proper amount of precipitation in May was the timely diffusion of nitrogen fertilizer for easier absorption by the plants, with the result of healthy shoots everywhere.
On another positive note, weather-related leaf diseases have not been an issue thus far.
The favorable weather conditions to date, combined with a small increase in acreage in 2015, as well as reserves left over from the very good harvest in 2014 have led to a slight easing of the grain markets.
The barley varieties planted in Germany largely mirror the recommendations issued by the Berlin Program. The most prominent varieties currently under cultivation in Germany are Grace, Quench, Propino, Avalon, and Catamaran.
For calendar dates of the upcoming malting barley inspection tours, as well as of other events organized by the different stakeholders in the brewing barley trade chain, please consult the Association website at www.braugerstengemeinschaft.de.