Challenging Growing Conditions for Barley Lead to Declines in 2024

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.