Barley $50/tonne less than this time last year
In a year when farmers say barley crops have performed better than anticipated the prices have dropped.
Barley prices are tracking up to $50/tonne less than at the same time last year in what is being labelled a stagnant market.
With quotes of around $300/tonne for barley at port in Melbourne and better than expected yields after a tough year climatically many farmers are opting to store the crop on farm.
Market Check chief executive officer Nick Crundall said prices have plateaued over the past four to eight weeks.
“When harvest kicked off, we saw selling pressure take over,” he said.
“And now prices are significantly lower than they were at the same time last year,” he said.
With the lower prices, he said growers had yet to sell it.
He said that the market to China has also influenced lower prices internationally, with the demand going quieter in the past few months.
Leonard Vallance farms 40km southeast of Ouyen and was optimistic about how barley performed at his place despite a tough year.
With just 65mm to 75mm of growing-season rainfall, the crop yielded around 1.8t/ha compared to a typical average of 2t/ha.
The quality was also better than expected with it making the BAR1 grade.
Fortunately the barley had been harvested before the rain came through at the weekend.
“We have had 80mm here in the past 10 days, and we only have lupins left to harvest,” Mr Vallance said.
“Considering the year we have had, we were happy with our barley and the quality,” he said.
At Tarranyurk, Marshall Rodda said it would be two weeks to 10 days before the header would strip barley.
“They were harvesting lentils over the weekend here,” he said.
Despite heavy rainfall in the eastern states, he measured just 2mm in the gauge.
Mr Rodda said there was more rain forecast, and farmers certainly didn’t want any heavy falls at this late stage because it could result in crop downgrades.
However, on the positive side, he said any moisture could potentially be saved for next year.
“The moisture in the ground can help with the following crop, and that is one optimistic way to look at things,” he said.
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