NEW MALTING BARLEY RECOMMENDATION
OPENS WIDE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

The addition of the first cereal variety to carry a specific export recommendation to the 2003 HGCA Recommended List of spring barleys this week (December 5) has given a valuable boost to UK cereal marketing opportunities. While the export opportunities for Prestige grain are substantial and already well-developed, cereal marketing specialists stress that the variety offers equally good potential for domestic use.

Reinstated in RL trials last year following the particular enthusiasm shown for the variety by growers and maltsters throughout Europe, Prestige is already a Carlsberg accepted variety. It is also being developed actively in conjunction with leading maltsters in seven separate European countries; accounted for 15% of the Scandinavian barley crop in 2002; and is set to take a dominant share of the French, Danish and Czech malt markets alone within the next two years.

“Prestige has excellent credentials as a true Eurobarley,” pointed out Andrew Flux of British Cereal Exports. “It’s been tested and approved by a large number of continental brewers and maltsters. Pan-European acceptability on this scale opens
the doors to many potential value-added markets for UK growers.”

At the same time, the variety’s high diastatic activity appears well-suited to the malting requirements of major markets further afield; most notably in China, South Africa and South America. This gives a hugely valuable extra string to the UK cereal exporting bow.

“Growers shouldn’t forget the opportunities for selling to UK maltsters either,” Andrew Flux added. “As well as domestic customers, they supply malt to major brewers across Europe and further afield who are already well-acquainted with Prestige.”

Having let buy-back contracts on some 5000 acres of the variety in the UK last season, Glencore is planning to triple this to 15,000 acres or more for 2003. Their experience suggests it is well-placed take a major slice of the 2 million tonne UK domestic market as well as generating substantial export earnings.

“The great thing about Prestige is that its market is already well-established across the continent,” explained Glencore’s Adrian Fisher. “Brewers and maltsters know it delivers the goods, with a nitrogen specification and all-round malting performance that consistently meets their specifications.

“We’ve found it’s high specific weight and particularly low screenings make for excellent marketability with very little extra cost or attention. Add to this commercial yields in excess of 7.4 t/ha, greater standing power, lower brackling and notably earlier maturity then either Optic or Cellar, together with first class mildew and brown rust resistance and you have a tremendous all-round package,” he insisted.

Adrian Fisher sees Prestige finding particular favour among Scottish growers for its earliness as well as its marketability, pointing out that it came to harvest at least a week ahead of Optic last season. He also considers it ideal for growers in the major spring barley growing areas of eastern, southern and southwest England who have ready access to ports.

“Big bold grains with screening losses of just 10% through a 2.5 mm sieve are just what’s needed to minimise on-costs and maximise export marketability,” said Adrian Fisher. “This sort of quality is exactly what we need for domestic markets too. We have no doubt Prestige will prove every bit as valuable to growers for home use and as it will for export.”