The federal government has announced more than $525 thousand in funding to promote Canadian malting barley.

Winnipeg MP Steven Fletcher announced funding for the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, the Malting Industry Association of Canada and the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute.

Managing Director for the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, Rob McCaig says this has been on the go for the last two or three years.

"The goal is to hopefully increase the sales of malting barley from Canada and put more money in the pockets of grain farmers in western Canada," he says.

The funding will be used to develop a "Canadian Malt Barley Brand," as well as for marketing and communications in new and existing markets.