Leading maltster backs popular spring barley

Full approval for malt distilling use

Maltsters are showing commercial interest in Firefoxx, the high-yielding spring malting barley from Elsoms-Ackermann.

Two years on since gaining full approval for malt distilling use by the Malting Barley Committee (MBC), the variety has continued its upward trajectory with maltster Muntons upscaling its requirement to 3,000 tonnes this year.

Muntons supply chain manager Mark Ineson, who has been with the company for 35 years, sees Firefoxx as an important step forward in securing iversity of supply in a sector where varietal change tends to be slow moving.

Different genetics

“We continually assess new malting barleys coming through the system – and in 2023 we trialled a small tonnage of Firefoxx grain into distilling malt to confirm that it performed equally as well as other varieties.

“As a newer variety it has a number of agronomic advantages, including the offer of a different genetic background, helping to ensure future supply security in the event of a potential resistance breakdown.

“Although on-farm reports confirm both its grain quality and consistently good yields, for us as a business, the critical factor is that it fully meets our customers specifications for supply, and Firefoxx does.”

Firefoxx should see its market share increase in the next 3-5 years – eventually replacing older varieties, says Mr Ineson – so long as it continues to perform well agronomically on-farm with growers and advisers retaining current confidence levels.

Strong position

Stuart Rowley, managing director at James Mortimer, takes a similar view. He sees Firefoxx being in a strong position for growth following Muntons decision to fully commit to the variety.

“The cycle of market change in malting barley tends to be much slower than in wheat or rape, so it’s important we support that change fully once the right variety comes along.” Says Mr Rowley.

“Earlier to harvest and MBC approved, Firefoxx ticks all the right boxes with its different genetic make-up helping growers to mitigate risk. Equally important though is that the end home market wants it.”

Nicky Wilson, regional seed manager for Frontier Agriculture, successfully trialled Firefoxx in 2021. She sees significant untapped market potential for a variety which has, admittedly, been a slow burner for some growers.

Ms Wilson says: “The early adopters who went with Firefoxx have all remained loyal, and, now that major maltsters such as Muntons are fully on board, I can only see its popularity and area increasing in the short to medium term.

“Its agronomic package stands up incredibly well – and, if anything, I’d argue it has had the edge on both yield and consistency, with its earlier maturity and diversity away from the Concerto parentage line being major incentives for growers.

Challenging weather

“With Muntons signalling their intent, and with the pressures of a comparatively short growing season in Scotland exacerbated by recent challenging weather for spring drilling, many of our grower customers have already confirmed their interest.”

Farming 1,215ha near Coupar Angus, north-east of Perth, malting barley specialist John McLaren, of MJ and J McLaren, grows some 485ha of spring malting barley – including some Firefoxx.

“We first began working with the variety in 2021, the year after it first appeared on the RL, and were initially very impressed. On the evidence of those first three years, we substantially increased our area of Firefoxx to 365ha in 2024.

Despite a three-week week delay to drilling last spring caused by terrible weather, Firefoxx still performed extremely well delivering average bushel weights of 65kg/hl, very low skinnings of 0.8% and over 7.5t/ha on yield.

“For 2025, we plan to drill 365ha of Firefoxx, all of which will be a commercial crop for Muntons with a small, additional area grown for seed.”