BOISE — Idaho barley producers eked out a document this yr.
Yields climbed to a median of 111 bushels per acre, simply over the earlier document of 110 set in 2020.
This yr’s huge harvest was arrange by Idaho’s cooler spring climate, mentioned Laura Wilder, government director of the Idaho Barley Fee.
“Grains love a cool, damp spring,” Wilder mentioned.
Idaho farmers planted about 560,000 acres of barley this yr and harvested 540,000, the U.S. Division of Agriculture mentioned.
High quality considerations hit Idaho grain crop
There have been fears that the cool spring delayed crop maturity and pushed the harvest again too far, making the crop vulnerable to sprout injury from monsoonal rains.
Nonetheless, Wilder mentioned she hasn’t seen widespread injury, though high quality took successful in some pockets all through the state.
“You know the way Idaho climate is,” she mentioned. “General, high quality was good this yr.”
She didn’t have entry to check weights that farmers had been seeing.
Not solely is the Idaho barley crop huge, with complete manufacturing at 59.9 million bushels, however costs are robust as effectively, Wilder mentioned. Contract costs final fall had been about 40% to 50% increased than the earlier yr, partly on account of low yields nationwide in 2011 due to powerful drought situations.
For instance, Idaho’s yields final yr had been 89 bushels per acre.
The low provide triggered maltsters and brewers, in search of an enough barley provide, to supply increased costs.
However these increased costs aren’t as profitable when one considers rising manufacturing prices, together with increased fertilizer costs, Wilder mentioned.
With the potential of one other brief water provide in 2023 and continued prospects of stable costs, Wilder predicts one other huge yr for barley, because the crop has a shorter rising season and desires much less water than potatoes or corn.
The USDA report confirms that Idaho retained the No. 1 spot for U.S. barley manufacturing in 2022, producing 34.4 p.c of the nation’s complete. Montana and North Dakota observe the Gem State.
Idaho’s local weather and irrigated cropland is good for the crop, Wilder mentioned.
“Idaho could also be well-known for potatoes,” she mentioned, “however Idaho can be recognized worldwide for high quality barley.”