2026 Spring Barley Updates

Each year, we run an extensive programme of spring malting barley trials – including Beal Farm in Northumberland – to assess the agronomic and distilling performance of both new and existing varieties.

These trials support informed variety selection and support more sustainable farming practices, which we believe will help us to create a more resilient and sustainable supply chain. 

Our Agrochemical & Technical Director David Cairns and Southern Supply Chain Manager Rob Austin, play a key role in monitoring and interpreting the trials performance.

Through our regular video updates, they share expert insights from the field, giving growers and end users a clear and timely understanding into the barley – and wider crop – growing season across the UK.

Below are our video updates from throughout the 2026 growing season, with the most recent at the top.  

In this video update, David is joined by our Seed Director Laura Beaty who discuss the latest progress across the site and the exciting news that Belter has now received full approval for brewing and distilling. Meanwhile, Rob reports from East Anglia, where harvest is moving at remarkable speed. Drawing comparisons with the famous 1976 season, he discusses early concerns around screenings, nitrogen levels, grain quality and why market sentiment has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. 

In this video update, Rob shares the latest on crop conditions following 50-60mm of much-needed rainfall and the contrasting outlook for winter and spring barley. We then head north to Beal Farm where David  discusses crop development, grain fill, aphid activity and the encouraging outlook for spring barley in Northumberland – quite the opposite from Rob’s comments. 

In this video update, David discusses how crops are moving rapidly through key growth stages and the progress of exciting newer varieties including Belter and Ptarmigan. We also hear from Rob in East Anglia, where another dry spring is creating challenges for light land farms. Rob shares his thoughts on crop stress, reduced tiller numbers, nitrogen uptake, and what an increasingly familiar drought pattern could mean for harvest 2026.

In this video update, David is at Beal Farm to assess crop establishment one month on from drilling and he discusses tillering, root development and early nitrogen management as crops move through key growth stages. Rob shares insights into the ongoing dry conditions affecting southern England and the potential impact on crop quality and nitrogen uptake. 

In our first spring barley trials update of the 2026 season, Agrochemical & Technical Director David Cairns visits Beal Farm to discuss drilling progress and early crop establishment following a challenging winter with prolonged rainfall. We also hear from Southern Supply Chain Manager Rob Austin in East Anglia, where drilling is more advanced despite a cold, wet start to spring.