Wet weather may lead to malting barley shortage

MALTING barley could be in short supply for the brewing industry this year due to the impact of the weather conditions.

But the current fears of tillage farmers are based on early indications from the harvest and it will be some time before the industry establishes whether there will be a serious threat to pint production.

Irish Farmers Association Grain Committee chairman Colum McDonnell said yesterday the wet weather has had a negative impact on both the quantity and quality of the malting barley harvested.