Estimated barley production for 2024 is 7.839 million tonnes
Barley production in western Canada saw a notable decrease in 2024, with a total area seeded of 2.504 million hectares, marking a 13% decline compared to 2023 and 7% lower than the 10-year average of 2.688 million hectares says Statistics Canada.
Despite favorable soil moisture early in the growing season, heat stress during the barley filling period ultimately contributed to lower-than-expected yields and production. The estimated barley production for 2024 is 7.839 million tonnes, reflecting a 10% decrease from the previous year and a 7% drop from the 10-year average.
Top Barley Varieties
AAC Synergy continued to dominate the malting barley market in western Canada, accounting for about 34% of the area seeded with malting barley in 2024. Meanwhile, the area seeded with CDC Copeland decreased, representing 17% of the total area, continuing a downward trend. Newer varieties gained popularity, with CDC Fraser and CDC Churchill increasing their acreage to 8% and 7%, respectively.
The area seeded with Sirish, a malting variety registered in 2017, also saw a rise, reaching 14%, although it is primarily used for general-purpose or feed.
The area seeded with AAC Connect remained stable at 12%, similar to 2023, while the area dedicated to AC Metcalfe dropped to just 1.5%.
Growing Conditions
The 2024 growing season began with cool and wet conditions, which significantly improved soil moisture and provided a strong start for the barley crop. However, the weather took a toll later in the season, with excessive heat in July affecting the physical characteristics and composition of the barley grain. In addition, some regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan experienced occasional rain in August, causing pre-harvest sprouting in parts of the barley crop.
Barley Quality
The quality of the 2024 barley harvest was impacted by these challenging conditions. The average test weight for malting barley was 64.7 kg/hL, a slight decrease from the 2023 average of 65.0 kg/hL and well below the 10-year average of 66.6 kg/hL. Additionally, the average 1000 kernel weight dropped to 44.1 g, significantly lower than the 10-year average of 45.6 g. The lower kernel plumpness in 2024 was linked to reduced starch content in the grain.
Despite these challenges, barley protein levels remained stable, with the average protein content reaching 12.2%, slightly higher than the 10-year average of 12.0%. Furthermore, barley exhibited an excellent average germination energy of 99%, with a high germination index and no water sensitivity, which helped mitigate some of the quality issues.
Malting Performance
Despite the lower test weight, grain density, and smaller kernel size in 2024 barley, the malting performance was largely positive. The combination of these factors allowed for quick water absorption during steeping and good modification during germination. This resulted in well-modified malt with high friability and ample enzyme levels, including diastatic power and α-amylase, as well as good soluble proteins and free amino nitrogen (FAN).
Additionally, wort from 2024 barley showed low levels of β-glucans and excellent viscosity values, reflecting a high-quality brewing product. However, the smaller kernels did affect the malt extract, with lower-than-expected extract levels across various Canadian malting varieties. Despite these variations, the overall malting performance of the 2024 barley crop was considered good.
As the barley industry in western Canada adapts to evolving growing conditions, the challenges faced in 2024 underscore the challenges and potential opportunities of the region's barley producers.
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