Western Australian grain growers planning their 2025 barley cropping program will benefit from the release of the latest WA Malt Barley Variety Receival Recommendations.
The annual plan, released by the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA), provides WA barley growers with malting variety specific recommendations. Through the GIWA Barley Council, the recommendations are developed in consultation with the WA barley supply chain and aim to guide growers and consultants when planning the 2025 barley cropping program.
David Moody, Chair of the GIWA Barley Council, said that WA growers are spoilt for choice with 31 barley varieties currently being grown, however, there is a problem with the limited number of accredited malting varieties produced in sufficient volume to warrant segregation and export marketing.
“While Maximus CL is the dominant barley variety, accounting for two in every three-ha sown to barley, the plan highlights how the low supply of RGT Planet may result in the exclusion of WA malt barley in several premium markets in Asia until there is sufficient production of other varieties which can routinely be malted without processing aids,” David said.
“There are some options available to growers to mitigate the loss of RGT Planet, such as Buff, but production volumes and the environment in which it is grown do not support significant segregation opportunities in WA.
“With market pull and sufficient production, niche segregations could be offered for Buff, and this is something the WA supply chain needs to consider.
“Further malting barley options are likely to become available in 2025 after decisions are made on an extensive list of varieties in their second and final year of the accreditation process.”
International market signals highlight Australian malt barley’s generally low protein status. WA Malt Barley Variety Receival Recommendations plan suggests that when delivering malt barley grain, growers should target malt barley grain between 10.3-10.8% protein for domestic sales and 10.5-11.0% for export sales (even though the receival window is 9.5-12.8%) with a minimum of 80% retention on a 2.5 mm sieve, a hectolitre weight above 64 kg/hL with ryegrass ergot less than 3 cm, no whole snails and no glyphosate use near harvest (i.e. as a desiccant).
While China has re-emerged as the largest buyer of premium malt barley, FAQ malt multi-variety barley and feed barley from Australia, the industry has benefited from the extensive in-market awareness that has been fostered by the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC).
“Over the last four years, AEGIC have been raising international awareness of the quality of Australian barley in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Africa, and Southeast Asia, as well as potential new markets in Brazil and Columbia,” David said.
“This promotion supports the development of these new markets, and new customers, for WA barley and further solidifies Australia’s position as supplier of 30-40% of the global malt barley trade.
“Market demand from China, Southeast Asia and Japan for premium malt barley remains positive, especially for varieties that can be malted without processing aids, however, we have seen the trade of feed barley to Saudi Arabia decline rapidly over recent years.
“Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador have become valued customers of malt barley grain as they only buy premium malt barley and without those markets, the spread between malt and feed barley would be tighter.”
It is important to note that seven varieties in Stage Two of the Grains Australia Malt Accreditation Program, AGTB0318, Beast, Cyclops, Laperouse, Neo CL, Titan AX, and Yeti, are not included in the WA Malt Barley Variety Receival Recommendations for 2025-26. Growers should expect a decision on the malt accreditation of those varieties during February or March 2025.
“Each year, the GIWA Barley Council works with the WA barley value chain to provide guidance to industry on the management of malt barley segregations in the bulk handling system,” David said.
“I strongly encourage growers and their consultants to take note of the recommendations within the plan when considering their 2025 barley cropping program.”
For more information on the WA Malt Barley Variety Receival Recommendations for 2025/26 harvest, please visit www.giwa.org.au.
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
David Moody, GIWA Barley Council Chair
0417 051 707
[email protected]
Peter Nash, GIWA Chief Executive Officer
08 6262 2128 or 0413 032 654
[email protected]
