We’re yet to see the full impact of Covid. It’s an uncertain time
Farmer Alison Milne
Sixth-generation farmer Alison Milne grows and malts barley for the beer and whisky industries and has never known conditions to be so difficult.
Mrs Milne and her husband Daniel run Crafty Maltsters from their 750-acre mixed cereal and livestock farm in Auchtermuchty, Fife, and saw demand slump as breweries and distilleries were hit by pub and restaurant closures.
The 40-year-old farmer said: “In an economic sense for the whole country it’s definitely as challenging as it’s ever been and that applies to agriculture too.
“I do definitely see opportunities and ways we can make a contribution that helps with the recovery.
“I’ve got children and that’s where I feel the future is most uncertain when you look at the level of job loss and wonder what the opportunities for the future are going to be for them.
“We have definitely seen an impact from Covid. There was a lot less demand on the malting business, although it is picking up because breweries and distilleries are up and running again. It has decreased but not gone completely.
“But I think we’re possibly yet to see the full impact of Covid on the grain supply chain.
“There’s certainly a suggestion from the grain trade and maltsters that they have a huge carry-over of grain, so there’s likely to be less of a demand for malting barley. Our barley contract is based on the wheat futures market so it’s very volatile because it’s dependent on what’s happening elsewhere in the world. Maltsters will be looking at what stock they’ve got in then issuing contracts, so it’s very volatile. It’s a very uncertain time.”
The Milnes use 250 acres for growing barley and produce 180 tonnes of malt from 200 tonnes of grain for the domestic market every year. The remaining 350 tonnes of the barley harvest is classed as carry-over and is sold to a grain merchant.
This year’s harvest has also been delayed by the weather, and heavy rain can mean the quality of the crop is affected and it cannot be used for malting.
Heritage varieties of barley are also more vulnerable to rain and storms.
Mrs Milne added: “The weather has a massive impact because you need to meet a certain quality to sell malting barley so that’s related to nitrogen levels, which is impacted by the weather.”