UK June Census Results October 31, 2014 12:00 am DEFRA has published its provisional results from the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture for the UK. The key results for the arable sector are summarised in the table below. The final results will be available on 18th December. PROVISIONAL UK JUNE 2014 CENSUS AND CROP PRODUCTION AREA – ‘000 Ha 2011 2012 2013 2014 Change 13-14 WHEAT Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 1,969 7.7 15,257 1,992 6.7 13,261 1,615 7.4 11,921 1,929 8.6 16,621 +4.7% +17% +39% BARLEY Winter Barley Spring Barley Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 970 359 611 5.7 5,494 1,002 385 618 5.5 5,522 1,213 310 903 5.8 7,092 1,080 427 653 6.5 7,027 -11% +38% -27.7% +11% -1% OATS Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 109 5.6 613 122 5.1 627 177 5.5 964 136 6.1 828 -23% +11% -14%% OTHER CEREALS 27 26 24 26 7.5% TOTAL CEREALS Production (‘000 tonnes) 3,075 21,485 3,142 19,515 3,028 20,084 3,172 24,621 4.7% 23% OILSEED RAPE Winter Oilseed Rape Spring Oilseed Rape Yield (tonnes per Ha) Production (‘000 tonnes) 705 680 24 3.9 2,758 756 744 12 3.4 2,557 715 621 95 3.0 2,128 674 660 14 3.7 2,497 -6% +6% -85% +25% +17% LINSEED 36 28 34 15 -58% SUGAR BEET 113 120 117 116 -1% POTATOES 146 149 139 140 +1% FIELD BEANS 125 96 118 107 -10% COMBINING PEAS 30 24 29 31 +8% MAIZE 164 158 194 184 -5% FALLOW 156 153 255 160 -37% Source: DEFRA The table shows a return to more ‘normal’ cropping patterns after the difficult drilling season in autumn 2012 when we saw a rise in spring sown crops. But the stand-out figures are the yields. These are not only considerably better than last year, but are high compared to other recent years for all the crop groups. Favourable weather conditions in 2014 compensated for the difficult conditions throughout the winter of 2013. With a larger planted area and a 17% increase in yield, the UK’s wheat production has risen by 39% compared to last year; an all-time high. For barley, although the area planted is less than last year, provisional production is only 1% lower than 2013 levels due to better yields. Unsurprisingly the overall UK cereals output figure is considerably up on 2013 and the highest for many years. Of the other figures, oilseed rape shows how winter and spring plantings have returned to a more ‘normal’ area, although winter plantings last year were still slightly down compared to 2012 and earlier, meaning production has not got back topre-2013 levels. Linseed has taken a considerable drop with fallow land falling by 37%. The full statistical release can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364157/structure-jun2013prov-UK-16oct14.pdf The first clear indications of next year’s crop areas will come through the HGCA’s ‘Early Bird’ Survey due to be published next month. We would expect a large decline in oilseed rape plantings and a substantial increase in the pulse area. .
