Low demand for barley keeps prices stable

Wheat's volatility not reflecting onto barley values

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Published: March 7, 2022

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(File photo)

MarketsFarm — Unlike the dramatic leaps wheat prices have made since the Russian invasion of Ukraine 12 days ago, malt barley prices have moved very little, according to Kris Moric of Johnston’s Grains in Calgary.

Wheat “is not pulling barley prices with it, as far as we can see on our end,” Moric said, noting that a lack of demand has kept prices stable.

“Some of these malting companies are getting coverage locally. Based on the feedback we have been getting from the farmers, even with their local companies, there simply isn’t as much demand as there used to be,” he added.

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Moric said a few days will go by in between dealing with barley and those farmers willing to part with it have been selling less volume.

Moric pointed to old-crop barley in particular to highlight the lack of demand, with a small gap between it and new-crop.

Old-crop barley, he said, was going for $8.50 to $9 per bushel picked up as of Monday, — the same range as on Friday.

Meanwhile, he said new-crop barley was fetching $7.50-$8/bushel on Monday, down from $8-$8.75 from the previous Friday.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

About the author

Glen Hallick

Glen Hallick

Reporter

Glen Hallick grew up in rural Manitoba near Starbuck, where his family farmed. Glen has a degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba and studied creative communications at Red River College. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Glen was an award-winning reporter and editor with several community newspapers and group editor for the Interlake Publishing Group. Glen is an avid history buff and enjoys following politics.

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