Leading U.S. states for barley production 2015-2020

In 2020, Idaho was the leading U.S. state in terms of barley production. That year, some 55 million bushels of barley were produced in Idaho. Montana was another major producer of barley in the United States, at 45.67 million bushels.

Global barley production

Barley is one of the first crops domesticated by humans and remains a popular food source. In terms of harvested area, barley is second only to corn, at 47 million hectares worldwide in 2017. Much of the world’s barley is dedicated to feeding livestock for meat production. In the 2018/2019 crop year the 28 member states of the European Union was the leading producer of barley worldwide.

U.S. craft beer market

Though there are many uses for barley, one of the most common is as an ingredient in beer. The United States is in the midst of a beer renaissance, particularly with regards to craft beer. Craft beer is often made in smaller batches and comes in many different varieties such as India Pale Ale, Saison beer, and Session IPA, to name just a few, with new types coming on the market each year. The volume of craft beer produced in the United States increased from 15.5 million barrels in 2013 to nearly 26 million barrels in 2018.