Yields Varying
Brits trade rapeseed for barley
British arable farmers have sown considerably more barley on their farms this spring. This is mainly at the expense of the rapeseed surface. This problematic cultivation is at its lowest level since 2004. Wheat is also having to give up.
Summer barley is the big winner and oilseed rape the big loser in the United Kingdom's grain areas. This is apparent from acreage figures from government service AHDB. There is less interest in winter barley, but the acreage remains significant. Low wheat prices have had their effect on farmers' plans.
Price pressures on wheat acreage
At 1,76 million hectares, wheat is the largest cereal crop on the British Isle. It does represent a 3% decrease compared to 2016. This is mainly due to arable farmers in eastern England, who have sown less in order to get rid of the dark problem. This requires radical changes in the building plan. As a result, a shift from winter to summer cereals is noticeable.
When planning for the 2017 harvest, wheat prices were at a very low level. Interest in wheat was under pressure. The total harvested volume of wheat this year should be higher than in 2016, in order to sufficiently replenish British stocks. More was done in 2016 and 2017. The decrease in acreage does not help either.
Consequences of a dry autumn
The rapeseed acreage shows the fifth decline in a row. The total area of 553.000 hectares is the lowest figure since 2004. It is again the arable farmers in the east that grow considerably less rapeseed. The consequences of a very dry autumn in 2016 and problems with the rapeseed gloss beetle, for which hardly any remedies are available. In the west and northwest of England, more rapeseed has been sown, which has somewhat halted the decline.
9
procent
Interested in spring cereals
A summer barley area of 725.000 hectares means a plus of 9% on top of 2016. The third increase in a row. The crop is popular with farmers, because blackness can be controlled well, and because many oilseed rape failed in the autumn. This area is filled with barley. With 428.000 hectares, the area of winter barley remains stable. The biggest plus is for oats; 14%. Scotland has the largest acreage since 1989 and England since 2003. Summer oats thus benefit from the interest in spring cereals. Scottish farmers have mainly traded wheat for oats.
Yields Varying
The grain harvest is currently in full swing in the UK. Most winter barley has been harvested. Arable farmers are busy with rapeseed and wheat is about to start. Due to the extremely dry spring, mainly in eastern England, the harvest is historically early. Yields are much lower on light soils. Barley does not go beyond 6 tons per hectare. Cereals suffered greatly from extremely high temperatures in June. The heavy clay soils perform well. Barley here does provide the usual yield of 9 tons per hectare or more.
The wheat market is currently harvesting friendlier than it was around this time last year. British farmers are looking forward to it again. In the first 6 months of this year, 14% more new tractors were sold than last year.
Niels van der Boom
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