Firms in the brewing industry may be facing even higher prices for their malting barley in the coming months.
Drought conditions across the UK have left many companies worried about barley stocks, with harvests having been damaged by the lack of rain.
Farmer Edd Banks told the Daily Telegraph that there is nothing that growers can do to change the situation, as normal drought treatments would make the crop unsuitable for use in the brewing industry.
He explained: "The spring barley is never going to get to its full potential.
"We can use fertiliser to help it along, but the brewing industry does not want high nitrogen levels, so they are going to have trouble [obtaining sufficient stock]."
According to recent report from the Home Grown Cereals Authority, the UK is set to experience its worst barley harvest in more than 40 years this summer, resulting in a rise in prices.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the brewing industry includes:
Conveyors – screw conveyors – chain conveyors – belt conveyors
