U.S. barley acreage hit lowest level since 1876 as beer demand sinks

U.S. barley harvest acreage in 2024 hit a 148-year low at 1.875 million, due to decreased demand for feed barley, rise of corn and soybean acreage, and a drop in U.S. feed barley exports. Despite this, barley still meets the needs of maltsters and brewers, with 75% of the crop used for malting. Anheuser-Busch announced the closure of its Moorhead, Minnesota, malt plant and the sale of its elevators in North Dakota, but continues to purchase more barley than any other brewer. The total U.S. barley production in 2024 was 144 million bushels, a 23% decrease from 2023, despite increased per-acre yields. In Montana and Minnesota, barley acreage and production have significantly decreased.

Barley, once a major U.S. cereal grains crop, largely has fallen out of favor with U.S. farmers. U.S. harvested barley acreage in 2024 fell to 1.875 million, the lowest number since 1876 when the country’s farmers harvested 1.702 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The decline in acres of barley is the result of a combination of several factors. Demand for feed barley, which used to commonly be used in livestock rations, has all but disappeared because producers are feeding corn and soybean meal rations. Corn and soybean acreage dramatically has risen as improved varieties have made them economically viable to grow in the northern Plains. A decline in the number of livestock producers in the region and a reduction in U.S. feed barley exports also have contributed to the reduction in feed barley demand. A small amount of barley annually is sold to pet food manufacturers who primarily use it as an ingredient in dry dog ...