Brewing Sustainable Change with Malting Barley

In this episode, we’re focusing on malting barley with two industry leaders: Roger Sherriff, National Seed Business Manager for Agrii, and Tom Barker, UK Product Manager at Secobra.

Our discussion will cover key varieties, characteristics for growers, and the mindset behind developing future varieties of malting barley.

Importance of Malting Barley in the Market

Can you start by explaining the current importance and uptake of malting barley, especially over the past two years?

Roger Sherriff: Over the last two years, spring barley sales have been strong. However, this year availability has been limited due to tough growing conditions, particularly in autumn 2023.

Difficult weather made it hard for farmers to plant, which opened up more opportunities for spring planting—though seed availability remained a limiting factor. 

We’ve seen a broad range of soil types across the UK, which impacts the nitrogen content and farmers' ability to grow feed barley, malting barley, and brewing barley.

The conditions also gave farmers who wouldn’t normally grow spring barley the chance to do so, benefiting both yield and natural grass control, particularly for blackgrass.

The Shift Towards Spring Barley as a Mainstream Crop

As a seed breeder, what’s your perspective on the malting barley market? Has it changed over recent years?

Tom Barker: Yes, we’ve seen a significant increase in spring barley planting, driven by last year’s autumn conditions. It’s no longer viewed as a low-input crop; it’s now becoming a mainstream option for many farmers. 

For example, according to the UK’s FDP, there’s almost 900,000 hectares of spring barley this year. It’s clear that the crop is taking a central role in farm planning.

Demand for Malted Barley in Brewing and Distilling

Is there capacity to continue growing the malting barley area in the UK?

Tom Barker: Definitely. There’s always been strong demand for high-quality malting barley, both domestically and abroad. It’s used not just for brewing beer and whiskey, but also for other products.

As the largest exporter of whiskey from Scotland, the UK plays a significant role in this market. The key is to develop varieties that can be brewed or distilled to provide flexibility for end-users. This ensures they can select the right crop from different regions and optimise production.

Key Varieties in the Market

What are the dominant varieties being grown, and which are gaining or losing favour?

Roger Sherriff: The standout variety right now is Laureate due to its market share. It’s a dependable dual-purpose variety with solid yields, strong disease resistance, and good standing power.

Several new varieties are actually bred from Laureate, such as Belter, which we expect to gain momentum in the coming years. Belter offers even higher yields and better performance.

Developing the Next Generation of Barley Varieties

Can you tell us more about the breeding process for new malting barley varieties?

Tom Barker: Our focus is on developing dual-purpose varieties that can be used for both brewing and distilling.

We also aim to improve key traits like hot water extract for brewing and spirit yield for distilling, so end users can get more out of each variety.

Sustainability is also a huge factor; we’re looking for ways to breed barley that reduces energy and water use in production. 

Developing a new spring barley variety takes around six to seven years, which is relatively fast compared to winter crops.

Our breeding program, established in 2017, is already producing promising varieties like Belter, and we’re excited about what’s next.

Evaluating Varieties for Growers

How do you evaluate new varieties before recommending them to farmers?

Roger Sherriff: We usually see varieties in trials for about three years before they hit the commercial market. This gives us time to evaluate their performance under different conditions.

At Agrii, we run extensive trials to determine how these varieties perform in the field, and we ensure that they provide both agronomic and financial benefits to farmers.

Top Tips for Growing Malting Barley

Could you both share your top tips for growers considering malting barley for next season?

Roger Sherriff: My advice is to start by targeting your market. Know which end market you’re growing for and ensure your land is suitable for producing high-quality malting barley.

Once you’ve understood your market and land type, focus on matching the right variety to your conditions. Nitrogen management is key—grow within your nitrogen requirements to maximise both yield and quality.

Tom Barker: I recommend keeping an eye on new developments and attending demo plot days to see how new varieties perform.

Spring barley is evolving, and there’s always fresh information from breeders, agronomists, and industry experts. Staying informed will help you make the best decisions for your farm.

Agrii R&D conduct an extensive range of independent trials that supports the development of our IPM programmes.

For more information on malting barley varieties and how to grow them, visit our Autumn Seed Microsite or contact your local seed specialist