UK June Census Results

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 18^th December.

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. .