9-10 IAT NW Barley

9-10 IAT NW Barley

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Barley in general. I called Kelly Olson, Administrator for the Idaho Barley Commission and asked if the drought was going to devastate barley in the Northwest. "The Idaho crop is going to be bigger than a year ago, we had increased plantings, our statewide average yield in August the USDA ratcheted that number down a little bit but it will be slightly less than a year ago. The crop is not in danger in Idaho but there have been pockets of pretty challenging growing conditions for sure. Other states like North Dakota difficult spring planting conditions and the ongoing shift to other crops like corn and beans where they have less risk and better return per acre. Montana, they've had even more challenging conditions than here in Idaho, they have had hail that has affected different parts of their production and now rain has harvest which is probably the worst thing that you can get with a malt barley crop. Because we are desert in Idaho we tend not to get rain at harvest. Overall it is a slightly above average crop in Idaho and I know my growers are just very relieved to get that crop in the bin. So even though we are experiencing drought here in Idaho, it does not mean that beer drinkers will go thirsty, correct? No that's right.
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