MALTING barley growers have seen their crops swing into and out of profitability in recent times. With vastly increased fertiliser costs, some now have a question mark over the acreage they will commit to the crop in 2009.
This week, two leading experts in the industry sought to give some re-assurance to those who still have a question mark over next season's crop.
Trevor Wright, of Simpsons Malt, one of the biggest suppliers of malt to the Scottish drinks industry
, pointed out that there were no signs of retrenchment yet in the whisky business.
He admitted that, after years of double-digit growth in world demand for whisky, there could be a slowing down in the trade but, he added, the effect of the worldwide recession might not affect the industry as much as some.
Currently, the Scottish whisky industry takes up to three quarters of a million tonnes of grain annually, a figure that has risen in recent years.
Speaking at his company's massive maltings outside Berwick on Tweed, Wright said, "It is all a question of confidence."
He urged farmers to stick with growing spring barley for the malting market. "We are here for the long term. We are trying to iron out the peaks and troughs in the business and we are offering flexible contracts for the 2009 crop."
These would come with a minimum price but he was reluctant to disclose what that minimum figure was, saying only that the malting trade did not expect farmers to grow the crop if it was not going to be profitable.
He was supported by Robert Hiles, European malting barley manager with Syngenta Seeds, who are leading plant breeders. He reckoned the world demand for whisky was still buoyant and that some markets were still experiencing increased consumption.
He believed that part of the answer to securing the future of the malting barley industry in Scotland was for growers to be helped in reducing the unit costs of the grain. This could be achieved both by better varieties and also by improved husbandry.
He expected long term favourite variety, Optic, to continue to dominate the acreage of grain sown in Scotland for the malting market. "Growers know how to grow it and that is important."
