Barley in the 1970s

The great thing about the 1970s is that I've lots of data. And that I can remember the period. That helps a lot.

Much of the information I'm looking at I was totally unaware of at the time. Like how the hops and barley industries were faring. Not too badly, it turns out.

Barley cultivation was much less volatile than that of hops. Probably because only a relatively small percentage of the total amount was used in brewing.

Over the period covered by the table, there was a very small decrease in the area cultivated. But this doesn’t really tell the full story. The long-term trend – starting in 1939 – was of an increase area. Peaking in 1966, at around six times the 1939 value.

The small decline in area cultivated was more than offset by the increase in yield. With production generally still on the rise.

Imports were more up and down, with the highpoint in 1971/72. That is slightly deceptive, as, for most of the 1960s, imports were at a much lower level, averaging around 200,000 tonnes.

Exports of barley were so inconsistent that there’s no real discernible pattern. They rage from almost nothing in 1969/70 and 1971/72 to around 20% of the drop in 1977/78. 

Barley UK production and imports 1969 - 1980
Crop Year August/July	Area Hectares (000)	Production Tonnes (000)	Yield Tonnes per hectare	Average Price £ per tonne	Imports Tonnes (000)	Exports Tonnes (000)
1969/70	2,413	8,664	3.6	21.44	956	12
1970/71	2,243	8,529	3.4	28.41	1,050	171
1971/72	2,288	8,558	3.7	24.3	1.052	10
1972/73	2,288	9,244	4	31.58	503	111
1973/74	2,267	9,007	4	52.21	726	244
1974/75	2,214	9,133	4.1	58.16	486	445
1975/76	2,345	8,511	3.6	65.14	534	847
1976/77	2,182	7,648	3.6	83.19	967	125
1977/78	2,400	10,531	4.4	78.85	421	2,078
1978/79	2,348	9,848	4.2	85.17	352	986
1979/80	2,343	9,559	4.4	93.42	231	1,113
1980/81	2,341	10,364	4.4
Source:
“The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1980” page 25.