Weyermann® Crop Report 2026
We are pleased to provide you once again with an early insight into the new 2026 summer barley harvest and the current raw material situation. The following assessments are based on our own research, market information, and data gathered through our direct procurement activities in the growing regions surrounding our malt production sites.
Sowing Conditions
The sowing conditions for spring barley in spring 2026 were nearly ideal. Between the end of February and the end of March, sowing was completed within a relatively short period under optimal soil conditions. Good field accessibility and favorable soil structure provided the basis for uniform crop emergence.
Growing Conditions
Following the early sowing under ideal conditions, crop development progressed very well through the end of April. The warm and sunny months from May through July supported heading, grain filling, and ripening of the spring malting barley.
Despite overall low precipitation levels, crop stands developed well. Disease pressure remained low throughout the growing season, resulting in very healthy crops overall. The limited rainfall generally arrived at the right time to support plant development.
Dry Harvest Under Optimal Conditions
July was predominantly dry, sunny, and warmer than average. The stable weather conditions promoted grain ripening and enabled harvesting to begin as early as mid-July. The dry and consistent harvest conditions allowed for a smooth and uninterrupted harvest campaign, which was fully completed by August 8, 2026.
Excellent Quality
Every incoming lot undergoes comprehensive testing as part of our quality management system. Only raw materials that meet our high standards are selected for the production of Weyermann® Quality Malts.
Thanks to the favorable weather conditions, the barley lots exhibit very good grain quality and are free from pre-germination. Average protein levels are approximately 10.5%, while moisture levels remain low at an average of 12.5%. The proportion of plump kernels above 2.5 mm also meets the requirements for high-quality brewing barley, averaging approximately 91%.
Overall, the quality of the 2026 harvest is at a similarly high level to the excellent previous year’s crop. It provides the ideal foundation for Weyermann® malts with the consistently high quality standards appreciated by our customers around the world.
Varietal Diversity
The raw material base of the 2026 harvest consists of the proven malting barley varieties Amidala and Lexy as well as the high-performing variety LG Caruso. The combination of these varieties brings together excellent malting quality, outstanding grain grading, and reliable agronomic performance.
In addition to these high-performing mainstream varieties, Weyermann® continues to support the exclusive cultivation of traditional malting barley varieties such as Barke® and Isaria 1924®. Although these historic varieties generally produce lower yields on the fields than modern malting barley varieties, their distinctive malting and flavor characteristics contribute to the unique diversity of our malt portfolio and underline our commitment to preserving valuable brewing traditions.
Spring Barley Production in Germany
The spring barley cultivation area in Germany for the 2026 harvest is estimated at approximately 287,000 hectares, representing a decrease of around 8% compared to the previous year. Assuming yields close to the long-term average, we expect production to decline by approximately 7% compared to the very good 2025 harvest.
Overall, the available supply of spring barley is likely to be around 15% lower than in the previous year. Against this backdrop, the availability of high-quality malting barley is expected to remain limited as the marketing season progresses.
Regionality Forms the Foundation of Our Raw Material Strategy
For many years, we have been relying on close cooperations with selected malting barley farmers in our growing regions, thereby strengthening regional value chains while promoting sustainable and transparent raw material sourcing. Through long-term partnerships and targeted cultivation contracts, we create planning reliability for our farmers while securing access to high-quality brewing grain.
These long-standing partnerships have formed the basis of our raw material supply for decades and remain an essential component of the Weyermann® quality philosophy.
The 2026 harvest year once again demonstrated the value of this regional approach. Short transportation routes, direct supplier relationships, and long-standing cooperation with our growers ensure full traceability and consistently high quality standards. At the Weyermann® locations in Leesau and Clingen, grain intake is carried out under strict hygiene requirements and with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that quality is reliably preserved from the field to the finished malt.
Outlook for the Marketing Season
The positive harvest results provide an excellent foundation for the production of our premium-quality malts. Combined with our consistent quality management, long-term raw material sourcing strategy, and extensive storage capacities, we consider ourselves very well positioned for the coming season.
This enables us to continue providing customers around the globe with the product quality, supply security, and reliability for which Weyermann® has stood for generations and is internationally recognized.
Weyermann® wishes all customers great success and enjoyment in brewing, baking, and distilling with the 2026 harvest.
