The German Malting Barley Association published the first crop report for sping barley 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on seed sales and early estimates by Germany\u2019s state malting barley associations, the Braugersten-Gemeinschaft (German Malting Barley Association) estimates that this year\u2019s spring barley acreage is roughly 320,000 hectares, of which some 307,000 hectares were planted specifically with malting-quality barley. The aggregate figure also includes about 30,000 hectares of spring barley sown in the fall. In addition, German farmers have planted more than 37,000 hectares of winter barley intended for malting and brewing. The German Malting Barley Association published the first crop report for sping barley 2026. Based on seed sales and early estimates by Germany\u2019s state malting barley associations, the Braugersten-Gemeinschaft (German Malting Barley Association) estimates that this year\u2019s spring barley acreage is roughly 320,000 hectares, of which some 307,000 hectares were planted specifically with malting-quality barley….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":19781,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[347],"tags":[2038,2029,2031,2037,2053],"class_list":["post-19780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maltmore-en","tag-barley","tag-braugerste","tag-gerste","tag-raw-materials","tag-spring-barley"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
The average temperature during the winter of 2025\/26 winter was 1.8 \u00b0C (35.2 \u00b0F), which was well above the long-term average and marks the 15th consecutive winter with above-normal temperatures. In addition, the winter was very dry with significant precipitation deficits especially in the northeast of the country. In contrast, during this time, northern Germany experienced spells of heavy snowfall. In general, winter weather conditions were most prevalent in the northern and northeastern regions. The year 2026 opened with severe frosts in January but ended with exceptionally mild and early spring-like conditions, when temperatures reached almost 20 \u00b0C (68 \u00b0F).
Accordning to the German Malting Barley Association conditions were near-perfect for the 2025 fall planting of winter malting barley and spring barley, as well as for the 2026 spring planting of spring barley. The spring barley planting window started in mid-March under optimal soil conditions. By early April, all barley planting had been completed in Germany, even in usually late-starting regions and at higher elevations.
As for fall-planted spring barley crops, there was some localized winter kill because of severe frost which required these fields to be plowed under and re-planted with spring barley. Overall, however, crop development has been satisfactory this season, at least as of early May, and growth has been balanced and healthy. Initially, there was some concern about significant day-night temperature fluctuations with almost summer-like daytime temperatures exceeding 25 \u00b0C (77 \u00b0F) that caused a severe drying of the topsoil. However, timely rainfall in early May ensured that the plants received sufficient moisture and nutrients, which was a great relief in many cultivation regions.
The key varieties planted this season are Amidala, Lexy, Caruso, and Leandra. All of these are recommended by the Berlin Program. In addition, farmers are cultivating KWS Donau and KWS Somerset, as well as several varieties under contract.
Source: Braugersten-Gemeinschaft e.V.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"