Lesson 2 - Barley

Barley is around 5% of the global grain crop. The majority of barley is produced for animal feed.

As the graph below shows, barley is grown all over the world. However, the EU is by far the biggest producer. According to archaeological records, Europe has been growing barley for at least 8000 years. Barley thrives in cool, moderately dry conditions. It can withstand hot, dry weather, but is particularly susceptible to disease in these conditions. It is relatively drought resistant, but requires water at specific growth stages, especially during spike filling.

Figure: Global barley production - 2021/2022 harvest (US Department of Agriculture figures)

Figure: Global cereal production - 2021/2022 harvest (US Department of Agriculture figures)