Elmore grower continues barley plantings amid China tariffs

Following China imposing 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley this week, an Elmore grain grower is confident other markets will take on his barley.

Ploughing on: Grain grower Darren Trewick, right, with son Jack at their Elmore farm. The family business is continuing with its barley crop, with high hopes that other Asian countries will pick up crop China might otherwise have bought. Picture: ZOE PHILLIPS

ELMORE grain grower Darren Trewick hasn’t changed his barley plantings this season following China whacking 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley.

“I haven’t really reduced my barley plantings this year, it is about 15 per cent of my rotation,” Mr Trewick said.

“China has a big economy which can have ripple effects in the market and we will feel that which is sad.”

Mr Trewick said as well as his barley being exported to a range of countries in Asia, he also supplied the local feed market and was wary of a price drop because of the tariff.

“I also supply the local stock feed market, but if export goes that price drops,” he said.

“But I do think other countries will take on the barley, our guys export to a big Asian bloc including Vietnam and Japan. We could have one big player out, but there will be others.”

Elmore Nutrien Ag Solutions agronomist Greg Toomy said overall barley plantings in the area were about 20 to 25 per cent down this year.

“Growers are typically replacing crops with wheat or canola,” Mr Toomy said.

However other reasons were coming into play as to why plantings dropped, he said.

“The seasonal outlook is positive this year and barley is typically used as a defensive against dry years so people have been confident to switch to wheat this year,” Mr Toomy said.

“Strong wheat prices are also a factor as to why growers are changing crops.”

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CHINA LOCKS IN BARLEY TARIFFS

But for some growers who were locked into their cropping rotations, it was too late to pull back on barley plantings, according to Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke.

“Some were already in,” he said. “If barley is in their rotation, growers use specific chemicals, so they are locked into certain variety types.

“But a few paddocks have definitely dropped off.”