New barley service for 2013-14 harvest

The CBH Group will introducefood grade barley segregation for the 2013-14 harvest for the barley variety Hindmarsh.

CBH Group General Manager Operations, David Capper said that the Food grade (BFOD1) will be a common segregation which all growers can deliver to and will be offered at restricted sites across all port zones.

The food grade will have the same quality specifications as Malt 1.

"The move to introduce the food grade has been prompted by the widespread plantings of Hindmarsh," Mr Capper said. "This should provide growers with the opportunity to capture value above feed barley from the likes of the growing Chinese demand for lower quality barley."

Mr Capper said there was still strong export demand for traditional malting barley varieties like Baudin and growers should be mindful of this when considering their planting programs in future, as it is these varieties that are likely to continue to have premiums relative to food or feed barley segregations."Hindmarsh does not meet the standards set by Barley Australia to be classified as Malting barley; however the classification of food rather than feed barley allows it to be used in markets where barley is processed for human consumption, such as the Japanese Shochu market," he said.For further information on barley segregations for the 2013-14 season please contact the Grower Service Centre on 1800 199 083.