Minnesota-based Cargill, a well-known name in the brewing industry for almost 40 years is getting out of the malt business, selling the unit to Boortmalt, a European maltster.
Last spring, Cargill announced plans to close one of its three U.S. plants, citing falling demand for six-row barley. With the continued growth in high flavor profile craft beer, fewer brewers are using six-row barley, which is predominantly what Western Minnesota and Dakota farmers grow in the Midwest climate.
