North America’s barley acreage was given up in favour of corn and soybeans. It is much too dry in the West, the two-row barley area. The Saskatchewan government reports that 60 % of all farms do not have adequate moisture levels. The weekly report of AMBA puts moisture levels in Montana at short/very short 66 % for topsoil and 73 % for subsoil moisture. Idaho, which relies on irrigation, reports only 29 % good water supplies. Recent rainfalls improved the picture in Oregon and Colorado.

19 May, 2004