2nd German 2017 Spring Brewing Barley Crop Report
Crop Report for Download>>>here
The Braugersten-Gemeinschaft e.V. (German Malting Barley Association) has put together this crop report in cooperation with the regional brewing barley associations across Germany. In the entire country, there are currently some 340,000 hectares of spring barley under cultivation. This acreage is essentially unchanged from the previous year.
Planting this year occurred within a relatively compact timeframe, between mid-March and mid-April. Soil conditions were generally good. However, as a result of an unusually dry winter 2016/2017, some fields showed moisture deficiencies that were already apparent at planting time. Especially in the western parts of the country, the dryness caused many stocks to be stressed and to emerge more slowly than normal. Very cold temperatures from mid-April to early May only aggravated the situation. Fortunately, even a dip in night temperatures to -3°C to -5°C at the end of April did not damage the emerging plants.
At the beginning of May, moderate temperatures and plenty of rain finally allowed the plants to recover and develop until crop densities reached satisfactory levels. The rain continued at a modest pace, and the plants grew rapidly without any adversity. Disease pressure remained minimal and plant protection measures could be applied at the right time. Timely precipitation also ensured that the plants absorbed the right amounts of nitrogen fertilizer — applied either at planting time or in two doses. Plenty of rainfall during the first week of June brought an adequate water supply for the plants to reach the heading stage. In early planting regions, crops were even at the early flowering stage. Given current growth rates, experts predict an average yield for German barley fields.
Just as in previous years, the barley varieties planted in Germany in 2017 follow the recommendations of the Berlin Program. They key varieties are Avalon, Solist, Catamaran, and Quench.
In mid-July, the Braugersten-Gemeinschaft e.V. will issue the next 2017 German spring barley crop report, as well as an early harvest forecast.
For the Braugersten-Gemeinschaft e.V.
Walter König