2023 Crop Report
The 2023 crop year was looking like another excellent year until June 21st.
When Valley Malt was visiting farms on June 19th and 20th, winter grain fields looked gorgeous and were about a week or two away from harvesting. In fact, 2023 seemed like it might be unfolding like 2020 and 2022, where the Northeast would be experiencing drought conditions.
However a new weather pattern moved in that brought record breaking rain. Many farms experienced heavy rainfall and others experienced days of rainfall without dry days in between that could help the grains dry out and be combined.
When working with local growers for our entire supply of grain, the need for these crops to be excellent quality is critical. It is also critical for the growers because they rely on the food and malt market to pay the premiums that make growing grains viable. Needless to say, we were in constant contact with growers who were heroically managing how to get harvesting equipment into fields, despite the rain, and get the grains out before more rain came. What this meant, is that many growers harvested grains at a higher moisture and then dried them down in order to get them out of the field where, if they stayed, they would start sprouting and get “weathered.”
It is with immense gratitude for the heroic harvesting efforts of Northeast grain growers that we can report that the grains we have to malt this year are of very high quality. Some farms we work with that did not have the capability to harvest early still have good quality but also have pre-harvest sprout, meaning that we are prioritizing these “lots” to malt right away. This is a minor issue compared to how catastrophic the rain was this year. Another minor issue is that plumpness is slightly lower this year on Rye. Given the stress the plants were under, it is not surprising and completely workable. We have been sharing assortment size and plumpness on all COA’s to make sure everyone is aware before they start milling.
We honestly feel like we have gotten very lucky and count our lucky stars for what we have to malt this year and that we have not had to reject any grains.
— Andrea & Christian
MORRILL FARM, PENACOOK, NH
BARLEY:
Conventional
Spring
Variety: Synergy
Germination: 99%
Protein: 12%
Quality: Very Good - slightly less plump
Potential Uses: NH Pilsner, Pale, GVP, Distillers Malt
HIGHWAY VIEW FARM, CONCORD, NH
WHEAT:
Conventional
Winter
Variety: Warthog
Germination: 99%
Protein: 14.4%
Quality: Very Good
Potential Uses: NH Wheat for NEIPA's and Distillers Wheat
Excellent for head formation and retention
QUINTIN FARM, NORTH HERO, VT
BARLEY:
Conventional
Spring
Variety: Connect
Germination: 99%
Quality: Good - high PHS but malting ASAP
Potential Uses: VT Pilsner, Pale, Golden Valley, Voam (dextrine)
THRALL FAMILY MALT, WINDSOR, CT
BARLEY:
Conventional
Winter
Variety: Scala
Germination: 99%
Protein: 11%
Quality: Very Good - some dormancy
Potential Uses: CT Pilsner, Pale, Golden Valley, Munich, Vienna, Voam (dextrine), Crystal 20
P&H MARTENS FARM, PENN YAN, NY
BARLEY:
Organic
Winter
Variety: Violetta
Germination: 99%
Protein: 9.6%
Quality: Excellent - a little dormant
Potential Uses: Organic Pale, Pilsner, Voam, Vienna, Munich
BREATHE DEEP FARM, CLAVERACK, NY
BARLEY:
Regenerative Organic Certified®
Winter
Variety: Violetta
Germination: 99%
Protein: 10.9%
Quality: Very Good - some PHS
Potential Uses: Regenerative Organic Certified® Pilsner or Pale, Diastatic Malt Powder
O’MARA FARMS, CANASTOTA, NY
BARLEY:
Conventional
Winter
Variety: Violetta
Germination: 99%
Protein: 11.6%
Quality: Very Good - some PHS, some water sensitivity
Potential Uses: NYS Distillers, Pilsner, Pale, Golden Valley, Voam (dextrine), Vienna, Munich
POORMON FARMS, SENECA CASTLE, NY
BARLEY:
Conventional
Winter
Variety: Violetta
Germination: 100%
Protein: 11.5%
Quality: Excellent - a little dormant
Potential Uses: NYS Distillers, Pilsner, Pale, Golden Valley, Voam (dextrine), Vienna, Munich
BARLEY:
Conventional
Spring Landrace
Variety: Hannah
Protein: 12.1%
Quality: Very Good - some water sensitivity
Potential Uses: Pre-prohibition malt, Landrace Single Malt
OECHSNER FARMS, NEWFIELD, NY
WHEAT:
Organic & Conventional
Winter
Variety: Harris
Germination: 95%
Protein: 9.9%
Quality: Very Good - slight PHS
Potential Uses: White Wheat Malt
Excellent for head formation and retention
WHEAT:
Conventional
Winter
Variety: Warthog
Germination: 99%
Protein: 10.8%
Quality: Excellent
Potential Uses: Warthog Wheat Malt
Excellent for head formation and retention
MOSHER FARMS, BOUCKVILLE, NY
BARLEY:
Conventional
Winter Facultative
Variety: Lightning
Germination: 99%
Protein: 11.1%
Quality: Excellent
Potential Uses: NYS Distillers, Pilsner, Pale, Golden Valley, Voam (dextrine), Vienna, Munich
SWITZER FARM, TRUMANSBURG, NY
BARLEY:
Conventional
Winter
Variety: VNS
Germination: 98%
Protein: 10.7%
Quality: Excellent - slightly less plump - this varietal has higher enzymes compared to other winter barleys
Potential Uses: NYS Distillers, Pilsner, Pale, Golden Valley, Voam (dextrine), Vienna, Munich