It has been widely reported that this year’s cereal harvest has been very disappointing.

The late Spring, due to a very wet March, was far too quickly followed by the first heatwave in late May.

Due to the mild winter, Autumn sown barleys fared reasonably well, delivering yields close to the 5 year average. Quality, however, is very variable with grain nitrogen’s erring on the high side. Spring barleys, on the other hand, were planted a month late, in the second half of April, and had only just established complete crop cover when the first heatwave struck. Although growth stages were then telescoped, ear formation was quite good, but subsequent heatwaves impacted grain fill. The overall yield of the English Spring barley crop is estimated to be 25% down compared to the average, the poorest harvest for more than 25 years. Again, quality is very variable.

However, this shortfall in new crop barley almost matches the drop in demand for malting grades which manifested itself last year. But that is not sufficient to keep a lid on prices. Geopolitical events – Russia and Ukraine bombing each other’s grain exporting terminals – is currently fuelling an escalation in global grain values, with no indication of where or how this might end.

At Warminster we have already rounded up sufficient quantities of the barleys we require for the next 12/15 months. But we are not immune from price increases. Farmers will need every penny they can get this time round, and we must respect this. Their crops are our lifeblood, and we need them to plant again for next harvest. We are all in this together!