Aaron Onio, malting and brewing technical specialist with CMBTC, explains the nuances of beer making at the test brewery at the centre.

Critical factors in growing malting barley

While malting grade offers premiums, farmers must meet stringent quality standards to avoid being left with feed

As malting barley yields approach those of top feed varieties, farmers are increasingly choosing to grow malting barley in hopes of securing a premium price — even if their end goal is feed. The problem is, those premiums don’t come easily. Shawn Pasieczka, a food safety grain specialist with Richardson, is the arbiter of what […] Read more



The Canadian Grain Commission reports barley production across the Prairies down by 10 per cent in 2023 over 2022.

Malt barley shows good quality

Dry conditions led to lower yields in 2023

Glacier MarketsFarm – Hot and dry growing conditions cut into barley yields in Western Canada in 2023 but quality was generally good, according to the yearly annual harvest report on barley quality from the Canadian Grain Commission. Total barley production across the Prairies was down by 10 per cent on the year, at 8.707 million […] Read more



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

Bureau won’t challenge takeover of Canada Malting parent

U.K. also has 'no further questions'

The owner of one of Canada’s major commercial maltsters says its takeover by a major French peer won’t be challenged by Canada’s antitrust regulator. United Malt Group, whose Canadian assets operate under the Canada Malting banner, last month locked in on a previously announced deal to sell itself to France’s Malteries Soufflet for A$1.5 billion […] Read more


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 […] Read more

(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 […] Read more


(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 […] Read more