UK: Barley harvest up 2.7% in 2024

Wet weather has taken its toll on wheat production in England, with the crop initially estimated to be 10 million tonnes in 2024, down 22% from 12.75 million in 2023 on lower yield and area, according to a report from the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

All the main English cereal crops and rapeseed saw reductions in yields in 2024 compared to 2023 except for oats, the department noted in its Cereal and Oilseed Rape Production Survey released Oct. 10. The initial estimates showed overall yields were down on the five-year average.

This is the smallest wheat harvest since 8.67 million tonnes in 2020 when wet weather last affected autumn plantings, the department said. The wheat area decreased by 11% and the yield was lower by 12% to 7.1 tonnes per hectare (t/ha). This is below the five-year average and varied between regions.

The barley harvest is estimated at 4.9 million tonnes, an increase of 2.7% from 2023. This comprises a 26% decrease in winter barley production, offset by a 41% increase in spring barley production.

Oats production increased by 20% to 773,000 tonnes in 2024 with an 11% increase in area, and the overall yield bucked the trend with an increase of 8.5% to 5.2 t/ha year on year.

Rapeseed production decreased by 33% to 687,000 tonnes, driven by a decrease in both area, which fell by 29% to 245,000 hectares and yield, which fell by 7.9% to 2.8 t/ha compared to 2023.

Data are based on provisional results from the Cereal and Oilseed Rape Production Survey, a representative sample of cereal and oilseed rape growers across English regions and farm sizes. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be included within the final production estimates for the United Kingdom in December.

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