Malt 3 stack very unlikely: CBH

Grain handler CBH has moved to cool grower expectations that an additional malt barley segregation, with lower colour specifications, will be introduced.

CBH grain operations manager Max Johnson this week virtually ruled out the introduction of a Malt 3 stack, saying in the past week there had been an abundance of malt barley delivered.

"With the wet weather around we had discussed with the Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA) the possibility of offering another malt specification but we are getting plenty of malt so we don't think we will be introducing another stack," Mr Johnson said.

He added that the quality profile of the barley would be kept under review.

A meeting between GIWA and CBH Operations last week had raised the possibility of introducing a Malt 3 specification if the rain continued and the colour went out of the Malt. It was discussed that new specification would have the same quality parameters as Malt 1 except for its colour specification to be reduced from 56 to 51.

It had also agreed that there would be no change to Malt 1 or Malt 2 specifications.

GIWA estimated 2.51 million tonnes of barley would be delivered across the State this year, close to double last year's barley receivals.

GIWA chairman Jon Slee would not speculate as to which areas would be most affected by barley discolouration.

"It's still a bit of a crystal ball. The rain has been quite widespread and there will be some hot spots from Geraldton to Esperance," he said.