The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released their prospective plantings and grain stocks reports today which highlighted a further decline in barley acreage, although not as drastic of a drop realized in 2024. Acreage is forecasted down in Montana but up in North Dakota compared to last year. Barley stocks in all positions are down 8% from this time last year.
You can access both reports at the AMBA website.
Prospective plantings:
Producers intend to plant a record low 2.32 million acres of barley for the 2025 crop year, down 2 percent from the previous year. In Montana, the largest barley State, acreage is expected to decrease by 11 percent from last year. Planted area is a record low in California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
Stocks:
Barley stocks in all positions on March 1, 2025 totaled 103 million bushels, down 8 percent from March 1, 2024. On-farm stocks are estimated at 44.5 million bushels, 20 percent below a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 58.4 million bushels, are 4 percent above March 2024. The December 2024 - February 2025 indicated disappearance totaled 13.9 million bushels, 54 percent below the same period a year earlier.
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Ashley McFarland
Vice President
American Malting Barley Association
Brookfield WI
(208) 215-0407
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