In recent years, Boortmalt provided the prices which contribute to the average malting barley price used to calculate the harvest price for suppliers to the Irish Farmers Journal.

However, this year, the prices are not being supplied. Since 2019, the price has been based on the average of the Free-On-Board (FOB) Creil Planet malting barley price from mid-April to mid-September.

This year, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) informed the Irish Farmers Journal that the price averaging started later than usual on 24 April. We are not aware why this was or when it was agreed to change it.

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We have access to a number of malting prices at the Irish Farmers Journal, but have been informed that the July price is used, which we do not have full access to.

Weekly price

Going on a weekly price for July, which the Irish Farmers Journal takes every Friday, this would leave the average at about €225/t and this matches up with where the IFA places the current average.

However, price averaging in Boortmalt is based on the close of business every Wednesday, so this price is only a guide.

This, of course, is subject to Boortmalt’s €10/t charge, which it outlined as a parity charge at a meeting in March of this year.

So, at present, that brings the malting barley price to about €215/t, but there are still a number of weeks to go in the averaging process.

Distilling barley carries a premium of €10/t, bringing that price back up to about €225/t.

This price is not the official price - it is simply an indication and merchants may manage prices differently.

Planning

As farmers plan ahead for the 2026 season, they need to enquire with merchants if there will be an end market for malting barley.

If there is not going to be, then they need to be looking at alternative crops and better spring barley varieties that can yield higher than some of those being grown for malting.

Many farmers saw contracts cut earlier this year after seed was ordered and some crops were in the ground. This led to farmers growing spring feed barley when they could have chosen another, more-profitable crop.