UK's cereals and oilseeds harvest area down 4% in 2012

The total cereals and oilseeds harvest area in Great Britain has fallen by an estimated four percent on 2012 to just over 3.68 million hectares, according to the 2013 AHDB/HGCA Planting and Variety Survey published last week.

As a result of the poor planting and growing conditions this year farmers were asked to submit their intended harvest area rather than planted area.

Total GB area dedicated to barley and oats has increased, while wheat and oilseed rape area has reduced, reflecting the poor planting conditions of last autumn and a switch to spring cropping.

GB wheat area is down 19 per cent on 2012 at 1.61 million hectares, while total barley area is estimated to have increased 26 per cent on 2012 figures at 1.23 million hectares.

Oilseed rape is estimated to be down 9 per cent from 2012 levels at 686,000 hectares. Oats have increased by 32 per cent to 159,000 hectares, and the GB field bean area has also increased by an estimated 14 per cent to 109,000 hectares.

“This season has been the most severe since 2001 when set-aside was still in place,” said AHDB Senior Cereals and Oilseeds Analyst Jack Watts.

“However, 12 years on with no set-aside to fall back on and relatively strong grain prices, the most economic scenario for the majority of growers has been to plant spring crops in place of what would have been winter crops.”

He added: “Yields still remain uncertain however, especially following the recent hot and dry conditions and ongoing concerns about soil compaction. For oilseed rape there has been a large variation in individual farmer approaches to the decision to abandon crops, so this estimated decrease in oilseed harvest area needs to be treated carefully.”

Wheat – Down 19 per cent at 1.61 million ha

No region of GB appears to have escaped the fallout from the difficult planting conditions of 2012. The reduction in wheat harvest area ranges from a fall of 12 per cent in Eastern England though to an estimated 26 per cent drop in the South West. However in absolute terms the largest declines are seen in the East Midlands (a fall of 66,000 hectares), Eastern England (63,000 hectares) and Yorkshire (55,000 hectares).

Barley – 26 per cent increase to 1.23 million hectares

Driving the GB barley harvest area is a 54 per cent increase in spring barley to an estimated 922,000 hectares for 2013, with plantings in England forming the majority of the increase.

In Scotland, which accounts for a third of the GB spring barley area, harvest area has increased by 5 per cent to 303,000 hectares. This, quality and yield depending, could provide much needed supply for the distilling sector.

Oilseed rape – down 9 per cent to 686,000 hectares

2013 marks the end of a three year run where records have been set for the GB oilseed rape area. The impact of abandonment, delayed crop development and the current hot and dry conditions is difficult to predict. The survey suggests the GB winter oilseed rape area is down 19 per cent on 2012. To a certain extent additional spring oilseed rape has offset some of the winter losses.

Oats – increase by 32 per cent to 159,000 hectares

The AHDB/HGCA Winter Planting Survey published in December 2012 suggested a 30 per cent drop in the winter oat area compared to 2011. Potential factors driving the subsequent increase in spring plantings are increased oat milling demand, land free for cropping and available varieties - the spring oat variety Canyon was added to the Recommended List in 2011.