Marta Izydorczyk, research scientist and program manager with the Canadian Grain Commission, explains the function of a germination drum during the laboratory tour.

Farmers attend malting academy

The malting sector is complex and the CMBTC aims to offer growers better insights

Farmers are gaining new insights in the malt industry through a course offered by the Canadian Malt Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC). The Malt Academy for Producers explores a complicated industry. “I thought it was a very educational course,” said Leigh Smith, who runs a 5,000-acre mixed operation north of Oak Lake. “There was a lot


Malteurop, which operates a malt house at the east end of Winnipeg, is one of several malting companies with a presence in Manitoba. (Dave Bedard photo)

CMBTC study finds new malting barley lines a fit for Manitoba

Agronomic traits in new varieties overcome disease issues that held crop back

Manitoba farmers have improved prospects to access the more-lucrative malting barley market, according to a recent study. The report by the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC), in collaboration with the Manitoba Crop Alliance, says new Canadian malting barley varieties can be grown successfully in Manitoba. With yields and quality comparable to the check variety

The malting floor at Anglia Maltings’ Crisp Malt facility in the U.K. (Photo: CNW Group/Richardson International Ltd.)

Richardson buys into European malt market

Winnipeg agrifood firm buys U.K.-based Anglia Maltings

Paris | Reuters — Canada’s biggest grain merchant Richardson International is entering the malt sector through the acquisition of U.K.-based Anglia Maltings Holdings (AMH), targeting rising demand for the beer and whisky ingredient, Richardson said on Friday without disclosing financial terms. Anglia Maltings operates seven malt facilities in the U.K., Poland, and Germany, with combined

Canada Malting’s processing plant in Montreal. (CanadaMalting.com)

France’s InVivo makes bid for United Malt

Bid would include Canada Malting business

Reuters — United Malt Group has received an indicative, non-binding offer from Malteries Soufflet, a branch of French agribusiness InVivo, the Australian commercial maltster said on Tuesday, valuing it at A$1.5 billion (C$1.36 billion). The A$5 per share offer represents a 45.3 per cent premium to United Malt’s last close of A$3.44. Trading in shares


(Dave Bedard photo)

Little change in barley acres expected

Malt barley prices mainly steady

MarketsFarm — As spring planting approaches, Peter Watt of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) said there likely won’t be a big shift in barley acres that will be planted in 2023. “Producers have made their [planting] decisions for the most part. You might see people adjust their plans a little bit based on

(File photo)

Low demand for barley keeps prices stable

Wheat's volatility not reflecting onto barley values

MarketsFarm — Unlike the dramatic leaps wheat prices have made since the Russian invasion of Ukraine 12 days ago, malt barley prices have moved very little, according to Kris Moric of Johnston’s Grains in Calgary. Wheat “is not pulling barley prices with it, as far as we can see on our end,” Moric said, noting



(Groupe Soufflet video screengrab via YouTube)

InVivo in talks to acquire French agribusiness Soufflet

Firms see limited overlap outside grain trading

Paris | Reuters — Co-operative group InVivo has entered exclusive talks to acquire family-controlled Soufflet in a deal that would create one of Europe’s biggest agricultural businesses with 10 billion euros (C$15.5 billion) in sales, the French firms said on Wednesday. The potential consolidation comes as France, the European Union’s largest agricultural producer, is trying

(Rahr.com)

China-Australia row to reshuffle trade in bulging barley market

Gains for Canada, other exporters won't be 'magical'

Paris | Reuters — A prohibitive Chinese import tariff on Australian barley will benefit other suppliers without changing the bleak global outlook caused by large stocks and depressed beer demand, analysts and traders said. Beijing said on Monday it would apply an 80.5 per cent tariff on Australian barley imports for the next five years,