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The article reports on the plan by Scottish malting barley growers to bid for a more secure share of the Scotch whisky industry in 2014. Topics covered include the creation of a strategy to strip away the cereal sector's vulnerability to volatility, the importance of Scotch whisky to the country's economy and the appeal by National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland for a strategy linking malting barley producers to distilleries.

The article discusses grower John Hare's switch to growing spring barley for the whisky industry. Topics discussed include the potential premium for his grain, hedging of his bets by growing a dual-purpose malting variety and his claim that his effort to grow barley is aimed at meeting the increased demand from the distillers while the needs of the brewers are declining.

The article describes the role of farmers in the production and distribution of whiskey in Scotland. Farmers contribute to the growing whiskey industry by producing barley and wheat, which are the main components of making the beverage. About 900,000 tons of quality barley are bought by malsters, majority of which will be processed through distillation. Farmers are encouraged to assess the local market, secure supply contract and produce the right quality barley.

The article discusses the expected growth of Scotland's whisky industry due to relaxed demands from malsters resulting from an increase in the grain nitrogen levels of the malting barley crop in spring 2013. It mentions the easing of pressure from farmers by the willingness of malsters to reduce their maximum acceptable nitrogen content. The higher nitrogen level of crops is thought to have been caused by prolonged hot weather in June and July 2013 followed by rainfall.

Reports that the National Farmers' Union Scotland has urged malting barley growers to reject contracts of less than £90 per ton with whisky producers. Protest of the union outside Diageo, a whisky maker; Need for fixed-term contracts.