Crop Areas and Yields October 16, 2015 12:00 am It will be no surprise to most that the 2015 season has delivered a big harvest. This has been confirmed by the latest statistics released by DEFRA. These are the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture showing planted areas in the UK for the main crops, and also estimates for crop production in the UK. The key results for the arable sector are summarised in the table below. The data is only provisional at present with final results will be available on 17thDecember. PROVISIONAL UK JUNE 2015 CENSUS AND CROP PRODUCTION AREA – ‘000 Ha 2012 2013 2014 2015 Change 14-15 WHEAT Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 1,992 6.7 13,261 1,615 7.4 11,921 1,936 8.6 16,606 1,833 8.8 16,129 -5% +2% -3% BARLEY Winter Barley Spring Barley Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 1,002 385 618 5.5 5,522 1,213 310 903 5.8 7,092 1,080 429 651 6.4 6,911 1,119 442 677 6.5 7,281 +4% +3% +4% +2% +5% OATS Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 122 5.1 627 177 5.5 964 137 6.1 828 131 tba tba -5% – – OTHER CEREALS 26 24 26 36 +36% TOTAL CEREALS Production (‘000 tonnes) 3,142 19,515 3,028 20,084 3,179 24,621 3,119 tba -2% OILSEED RAPE Winter Oilseed Rape Spring Oilseed Rape Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 756 744 12 3.4 2,557 715 621 95 3.0 2,128 675 661 14 3.7 2,497 654 647 7 tba tba -3% -2% -51% LINSEED 28 34 15 15 +3% SUGAR BEET 120 117 116 90 -22% POTATOES 149 139 141 131 -6% FIELD BEANS 96 118 107 168 +57% COMBINING PEAS 24 29 32 43 +36% MAIZE 158 194 183 186 +1% FALLOW 153 255 160 193 +20% Source: DEFRA The wheat area dropped compared to 2014, but good yields (even better than last year) mean that overall production is only slightly lower. Any crop over 16m tonnes is a big one. With significant stocks of wheat carried-over from last year (possibly 2.5m tonnes), the UK has a very large amount of grain to market. The areas of both winter and spring barley rose for harvest 2015. Coupled with high yields, this has resulted in a record harvest for recent years. The oilseed rape area is down, but perhaps by not as much as was thought likely. A bigger reduction in plantings may well have occurred this autumn for a combination of economic, rotational and disease reasons. The sugar beet crop shows a drop in area due the reduction in Contract Tonnage Entitlement for the 2015 crop. As has been reported previously in articles, the potato area is down this year – perhaps helping to improve prices. The effect of Greening can be seen in the crop area figures. Both beans and peas show big increases – propelled by their use to satisfy both the Crop Diversification and EFA requirements. The increase in fallow area can also be linked to the new rules under the BPS. Full crop area figures can be found at – https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/structure-of-the-agricultural-industry-in-england-and-the-uk-at-june The first statistical indications of plantings for next year will come next month with the publication of the AHDB’s ‘Early Bird’ Survey.
