Industry Updates from NRBAC Autumn Meeting 2023

Industry Updates from 2023 Autumn Meeting

On the 31^st of May 2023, Seventeen industry representatives met online for the Northern Region Barley Advisory Committee (NRBAC) meeting. The NRBAC very much appreciates the vital and ongoing support of DAF Qld for hosting these important meetings.

The following key points are updates on recent activities:

GRDC have committed more than $17.5 million over the next four years to continue its ongoing investment into Grains Australia (GA). 11 months on from Barley Australia (BA) merging with GA and all BA activities, including Malting Barley Accreditation are continuing business as usual.
The newly malt accredited variety Buff and an update on other varieties progressing through the program in 2023 and beyond was provided by the MBIBTC. The preferred malting barley varieties by market demand tables for each State in Australia have recently been updated on the BA website.
AEGIC provided a summary of their barley market technical engagements to date, noted that they have continued their malt barley webinars in China, Mexico, South America and South Africa and feed webinars into Southeast Asia. Future in market workshops planned for Mexico, Brazil, India, Saudi and China.
SECOBRA/Seednet provided an update on the progress of Laperouse in Stage 2 of the 2023 malt accreditation program and discussed trials involving a new winter type feed barley called Newton.
GrainCorp discussed the barley quality from the 2022 season, summarised the percentage of barley varieties grown in the northern region and discussed domestic and export markets for both feed and malting barley.
DAF provided an update on new barley varieties performance against disease pressures seen in the wetter than usual 2022 season. Discussion was also held around farm management and the service available for growers provided by the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN).
Barret Burston Maltings provided a malt update for both domestic and export markets.
NRBAC Spring meeting is likely to be a face-to-face event, however the date and the venue location is yet to be determined.