Malting barley production in the northeast is set to triple this spring to around 1,000ac.

James Loughran of Dundalk-based Loughrans’ Stores will sign contracts directly with farmers, rather than Boortmalt, with malting-quality grain traded on post-harvest.

The variety RGT Planet will replace Laureate.

Speaking at XXX, Tom Bryan of Boortmalt said the new variety Prospect had done well in the area in 2018 and that malt samples from this looked particularly interesting.

Crop agronomy is to be provided by local agronomist Joe Conroy.