Farmers are calling for Boortmalt to pay a price for malting barley that reflects the realities of the 2018 harvest. Yields have been hammered and feed barley is matching the MATIF milling wheat price that determines Boortmalt price.

IFA tillage chair Mark Browne said Boortmalt must take “all mitigating factors” into account when determining the final price, notwithstanding the improved deal agreed in June. “This needs to be dealt with immediately, as the outcome will impact on growers’ decisions to grow malting barley again.” The IFA intends to negotiate a deal for 2019 as soon as possible.

ADVERTISEMENT