# Expert says barley has been a 'sick market' but it's 'getting better' - Agweek | #1 source for agriculture news, farming, markets

> A Montana malting consultant told the Prairie Grains conference that barley demand has kept shrinking as brewing and malting consolidate. He said the market is being right-sized as 2026 approaches. Anheuser-Busch's plant sales and brewery divestments were cited as examples.

- Date: 2025-12-19 · published 2025-12-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/21573-expert-says-barley-has-been-a-sick-market-but-it-s-getting-better-agweek-1
- Commodities: [Barley](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARLEY.md)

## Why it matters

Lower malting demand weighs on malting barley premiums and contract values, while feed barley remains the outlet for surplus supply. The consolidation is a structural negative for barley demand.

## Read by commodity

- BARLEY: bearish ▼

## Sources

- agweek.com: https://www.agweek.com/crops/cereal-grains/expert-says-barley-has-been-a-sick-market-but-its-getting-better

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.