Feb/March 1998
Barley Brewings
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
US barley producers and US Feed Grains Council (USFGC) representatives capitalized on the USFGC's booth at Interbrau '97 in Munich, Germany, to meet with brewers and importers from around the world. Over 70,000 people were in attendance at the international conference. USFGC made contacts with barley importers worldwide, and increased awareness of US malting barley and barley malt in the worldwide brewing industries.
Canadians benefiting from U.S. battle with vomitoxin
At the Red River Valley Barley Day January 8 in Grand Forks, ND, Richard Emerson of Busch Ag Resources, Inc., pointed out that US and Canadian barley producers together are just barely meeting the needs of the malting barley industry. And with just 11 million bushels of vomitoxin-free malting barley produced in the US in 1997, said Emerson, the winners are Canadian barley growers and the Canadian Wheat Board, which markets the crop. Canadian transportation companies also benefit, from delivering Canadian barley to US industries.
New Market Opportunities in Peru
Malterias Lima, Peru's largest brewer which enjoys 80% of the Peruvian beer market, is interested in learning more about the US malting barley market, varieties, and export prices. The Peruvian market needs about 5.5 million bushels of malting barley, and Peruvian barley is not used for malting. The US has not yet broken into this market as a supplier.
Malting barley edging into the Japanese market
Japan recently tendered for 4,000 metric tons (183.7 mbu) of U.S. malting barley for December shipment. "This is a very important opportunity for the U.S. malting barley industry because the Japanese market has the reputation of being the most quality-conscious market in the world. It is said that if you can successfully sell malting barley into Japan, you can sell it anywhere," said John Larkin, USFGC manager of international operations. Key initiatives, like the Council's malting barley samples program, will continue to help the Japanese to learn about US malting barley quality.
Japanese barley decline means opportunity for U.S.
Japanese production of waxy hulless barley is declining due to high costs and overseas competition, according to Dennis Kitch, director of the USFGC regional office in Japan. Japan is expected to continue to decrease its production until most of its barley will be imported, says Kitch. New varieties of waxy hulless barley, targeted at the Japanese market, are being tried in the US
Taiwan interested in U.S. barley
Taiwan is testing waxy hulless barley for food use. The USFGC is working with the Taiwan Barley & Products Association to launch a major promotional and educational campaign to establish a favorable food and grain image. Beer production in Taiwan has been state-run, but with privatization imminent, the timing is right to introduce US malting barley/malt processing. n