U.S. barley acreage hit lowest level since 1876 as beer demand sinks

Barley, once a major U.S. cereal grains crop, largely has fallen out of favor with U.S. farmers. U.S. harvested barley acreage in 2024 fell to 1.875 million, the lowest number since 1876 when the country’s farmers harvested 1.702 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The decline in acres of barley is the result of a combination of several factors. Demand for feed barley, which used to commonly be used in livestock rations, has all but disappeared because producers are feeding corn and soybean meal rations. Corn and soybean acreage dramatically has risen as improved varieties have made them economically viable to grow in the northern Plains. A decline in the number of livestock producers in the region and a reduction in U.S. feed barley exports also have contributed to the reduction in feed barley demand. A small amount of barley annually is sold to pet food manufacturers who primarily use it as an ingredient in dry dog ...