UK: Barley crop estimated down 14.2% this year

The estimate was marginally down from an initial forecast of 14.02 million issued in October.

The rise was driven partly by a 29.1% rise in area to 1.79 million hectares following more favourable planting conditions.

Average wheat yields rose 12.2% to 7.8 tonnes per hectare.

The previous season's wet weather during the autumn planting window for wheat forced many farmers to switch to spring-sown crops such as spring barley.

Rapeseed production fell 5.5% to 981,000 tonnes with a decrease in planted area partially offset by a rise in yields.

The estimate was marginally above a previous forecast of 977,000 tonnes issued in October.

The planted area fell 19% to 307,000 hectares, far below the peak of 756,000 hectares in 2012.

The average yield was 3.2 tonnes per hectare, up from the prior season's 2.7 tonnes.

Problems controlling flea beetles, following a ban on some widely used insecticides, have contributed to the decline in area in recent years.

The ministry estimated the barley crop at 6.96 million tonnes, down 14.2%.