Barley prices in the Australian market are heavily affected by weather conditions. The ideal conditions for growing barley are cool and dry. Therefore, unusually high rainfall and extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) lead to lower yields and higher prices.
Prices are also affected by the current world market and yields available in other countries. Other factors include fluctuations in operating costs, such as the input costs of fertilisers and pesticides.
Updated daily, price in INR/Tonne.
Barley is a cereal grain that is part of the grass family. It is lighter in colour than wheat and has extended, overlapping auricles. It is grown extensively throughout the world and is thought to have been cultivated as far back as 10,000 years ago. It is used extensively in cooking, baking, and as stock feed – but its primary use is in the creation of malt for the production of beer and confectionery. Around 30% of Australian barley is used for malting.
Most of the barley produced in Australia is grown in Western Australia’s south, through to the southern end of South Australia, in New South Wales, and up to southern Queensland.
As there are several varieties of barley, it is possible to select one that is best adapted to the specific conditions of a particular region. This is why the varieties of barley planted across these vast growing areas differ to ensure the best chance of successful, high-yielding crops.
Australia is the third biggest producer of barley in the world, behind the European Union and Russia. Within Australia, it is the second most frequently grown crop (after wheat).
In 2022 to 2023, Australia produced 13.7 million metric tonnes of barley, making this a significant export commodity. Barley traded above the median price in 2023.
If you’d like to know the feed barley prices in Australia for the purposes of animal fodder, please refer to the graph below.
Barley is a winter crop. In Australia, it is typically sown in May and June and harvested six months later.
It is best grown in areas with cool, dry, mild winters. Some varieties also grow well in drought conditions.
To help prevent root diseases, barley is frequently grown in rotation on land where canola and wheat are also grown.
If you would like to find out more about various commodities traded in Australia, please take a look at these articles.
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