The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Grain committee chairperson John Murphy has called for a meeting with Boortmalt “as soon as possible”, saying the €10/t parity charge needs to be removed.
Murphy said the meeting would be an opportunity to voice the concerns of growers, while also discussing the lack of profitability in malting barley in 2026 and plans for 2027.
“We need this meeting as soon as possible," he said. "Confidence in growing malting barley is not there for the future. Farmers feel they would better growing feed barley.”
Higher base prices
Murphy said that communication between Boortmalt and the IFA over the summer was quite good until the price was released to merchants.
Murphy acknowledged malting-barley markets are under pressure but noted a higher base price from Dairygold and higher malting barley prices overall from both Dairygold and Tirlán once bonuses were accounted for.
“We feel that Boortmalt, as the largest maltster in Ireland, need to support their growers for the future of the industry and to have a supply of high-quality Irish barley to produce Irish drinks,” he said.
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