Market commentaries rarely discuss any crops other than corn, wheat or soybeans. This is because they have futures markets, and that means speculators. Another reason is that the production volumes of the minor crops are very small relative to the “big three.” These crops include barley, oats, sunflower, pulse crops, etc. Barley is one of the bigger minor crops and obviously important to anyone who enjoys an occasional adult beverage. The problem is that it has started to fade away even as a minor crop. Historical and projected returns per acre simply don’t compete with those of corn, soybeans and even wheat. In addition, farmers growing barley are subject to all sorts of quality requirements to sell the crop into malting...