This week sees a number of malting barley conferences take place ahead of the planting season. This sector has been transformed since the arrival of Boortmalt and is helping to drive the expansion in our booming distilling sector. However, increased sophistication at the processor end has resulted in many additional requirements being imposed on growers. The combination of these is threatening the net value of the crop to traditional growers. It is time to look again at where this industry is headed and to reward the efforts of primary producers if they are to be encouraged to stay with the crop.

Tillage editor Andy Doyle takes an in-depth look at the malting barley scene here.