Spring Barley - Germ dropped & moisture up in shed

[Fat hen]

Can anyone suggest a viable explanation for this please.
2017 Propino cut before conditions got wet. 15.5% dried on floor to 14.5%ish. Grain merchant spears it in Sept and again in Dec 2017. Looking good on all fronts for malting.

Boat in dock today (March 1st 2018). Moisture 15.6% Germ 92%...Got the dreaded call...luckily in the end they took the load. £21/t deductions!! £140 down to frigging £119!! Anyhow he is coming across this a lot this year and he aint gonna be able to fill the boat he says. I asked him why its happening but he has no idea.

Anyone?

 

[Heathland]

Oh the joys of growing malting barley,Just moved all my spring malting barley to mix it,coming to test it Monday as my merchant is also starting to get rejections through moisture,germ better find out now rather than at the docks/ malting's,I've had the same problem in the past and it seems it can just take up moisture in the New year,down to higher humidity?
Are you on a floor dryer by any chance?

 

[Fat hen]

Oh the joys of growing malting barley,Just moved all my spring malting barley to mix it,coming to test it Monday as my merchant is also starting to get rejections through moisture,germ better find out now rather than at the docks/ malting's,I've had the same problem in the past and it seems it can just take up moisture in the New year,down to higher humidity?
Are you on a floor dryer by any chance?

Yes drying floor. Are you saying the humidity percolates up through the profile? If so do you think closing off the vent channels would avert this?
I suppose I would expect it to just wet the outside of the heap be it the base or slopes

 

[stevedave]

I think your answer is £21 deductions but they still took it. As we are very far west we used to come across this with maltsters a lot. We had loads rejected for moisture then we a sample checked by the driver at the Weatabix factory and the moisture was fine.

 

[Heathland]

@Fat hen
I've had this issue with one of my dryer sheds which is surrounded by tree's,got it dry in the autumn(tested by merchant) below 14.5 % then retested in the spring by same merchant and it risen to over 15%,
Of course this was recorded in my farm assurance record's .
I do shut my doors now in the tunnel now when its dry.They reckon it was down to the very high humidity that year.

 

[Chae1]

Can anyone suggest a viable explanation for this please.
2017 Propino cut before conditions got wet. 15.5% dried on floor to 14.5%ish. Grain merchant spears it in Sept and again in Dec 2017. Looking good on all fronts for malting.

Boat in dock today (March 1st 2018). Moisture 15.6% Germ 92%...Got the dreaded call...luckily in the end they took the load. £21/t deductions!! £140 down to frigging £119!! Anyhow he is coming across this a lot this year and he aint gonna be able to fill the boat he says. I asked him why its happening but he has no idea.

Anyone?

Be better selling it for feed. That's a rubbish premium. Feed is up to £130 and no risk.

A lot of these companies should be told to stuff it in my opinion. You've dried it down at low temperature to protect germination and stored it since harvest. For £10/t.

 

[crazy_bull]

Be better selling it for feed. That's a rubbish premium. Feed is up to £130 and no risk.

A lot of these companies should be told to stuff it in my opinion. You've dried it down at low temperature to protect germination and stored it since harvest. For £10/t.

I guess it was sold forward at £140 as current market circa £165-175x

so if you downgrade to feed there could be a £25-35 default against the sale price.

Germination do see to be fragile this year more than before for some reason.

If you don't believe the maltsters results though, ask for an independent test.

C B

 

[Fat hen]

This is being tested at the dock, not by malsters or agents. So I am less suspicious because the dock is neutral you'd have thought. It is the agent's boat however.

I am told feed barley is only 110. And malting price is 145

 

[Fat hen]

Load today rejected at 86% germination! Grrr!

Remaining loads will be at the lousy 110 to cover the premium. How disappointing esp after the brackling at harvest!

 

[crazy_bull]

This is being tested at the dock, not by malsters or agents. So I am less suspicious because the dock is neutral you'd have thought. It is the agent's boat however.

I am told feed barley is only 110. And malting price is 145

where in the country are you?

 

[Fat hen]

where in the country are you?

Lincoln area

 

[crazy_bull]

feed barley is £141 del ports or there abouts.

but if they will downgrade your contract to £110 ie a £25 default then that is fair, as I see old crop malt around £165

 

[Fat hen]

as I see old crop malt around £165

Wow thats a good price. Easy with hindsight

 

[crazy_bull]

Wow thats a good price. Easy with hindsight

market will likely have moved a lot since you sold it, a £25 drop back to feed whilst frustrating is about right.

C B

 

[Chae1]

This is being tested at the dock, not by malsters or agents. So I am less suspicious because the dock is neutral you'd have thought. It is the agent's boat however.

I am told feed barley is only 110. And malting price is 145

Malting was £160 off combine at harvest up here.

 

[Brisel]

Malting was £160 off combine at harvest up here.

The market was good at harvest, plus I'll bet your spec is higher than Fat Hen's - probably lower N for a start.