Since 1870 we’ve lived and breathed malting. With this passion and expertise, and by combining traditional and modern techniques, we create an impressive range of malted and non-malted products, including several unique and exclusive barley malts.
There is nothing more we love than talking to brewers and distillers so if you have any questions, or would like to arrange a call with a member of our team, please feel free to get in touch – we would love to hear from you!
At Crisp Malt, sustainability starts in the field. Through Field Forward, our sustainable agriculture initiative, we work alongside our merchants and farmers within our Grower Groups, to expand the adoption of farming practices that protect soil health, support biodiversity and build resilience for the future. One of the key practices within Field Forward is cover cropping; a simple but powerful tool that delivers benefits both above and below the soil surface.
Cover cropping involves growing plants between main cash crops, rather than leaving soil bare. These crops are not typically harvested for sale; instead, they are grown to protect and improve the soil.
Cover crops can include grasses, legumes, brassicas and flowering species, often sown as diverse mixes. Each species plays a different role, from fixing nitrogen and improving soil structure, to suppressing weeds and supporting beneficial insects.
By keeping living roots in the soil for longer, cover cropping helps:
87% of our ABC Grower Group grow overwinter cover crops and are tailoring cover crop mixes to their own rotations and soil types, ensuring the practice delivers both environmental and practical farm benefits.
67% of our ABC Grower Group integrate livestock to graze off overwinter cover crops.
This approach offers multiple advantages:
When carefully managed, grazing supports both soil health and farm profitability; a key goal of Field Forward.
Ben samples the soils to test soil organic matter every year and he has noticed a significant improvement since integrating cover crops.
“20 years ago, soil organic matter was as low as 1.5% in some areas, and measurements today are up to 3.5%”.
Ben’s experience reflects a wider trend across the Field Forward initiative: cover cropping isn’t just about sustainability targets, it’s about building stronger, more resilient farming systems that work in real-world conditions.
Our Field Forward results show strong engagement with cover cropping and a clear move towards more diverse and integrated systems:
Healthy soils are fundamental to producing high-quality barley. Through Field Forward, cover cropping helps our grower partners:
By supporting practices like cover cropping, we are investing in sustainable supply chains that benefit farmers, the environment and our customers alike.
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