UK barley falls as new crop comes in

By FWi staff

THE UK barley harvest started in earnest in some regions around the country last weekend and values have fallen in line with the new crop.

The first winter varieties are coming off-farm although its too early to have any meaningful representative on quality, said Gerald Mason, economist at the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

It will be another two weeks before there will be any real indication on quality when the spring varieties have started coming off, he added.

Feed barley values have fallen to about £67.87/t in the past week in line with the new crop.

Mr Mason said prices are currently based on export values. And in the coming weeks values will be heavily dependent on the Pound along with export opportunities.

Mr Mason believed a number of southern European countries could be seeking barley from the UK in the coming months due to smaller harvests of their own.

As the season progresses, barley values are expected to remain close to intervention.

November deliveries for intervention are £79/t at present while November futures are £74.50/t.