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

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

Questions about any of the above? Contact us!