First estimate of cereal and rape harvest in Scotland for 2006

Preliminary estimates of the 2006 Scottish cereal and oilseed rape harvest were issued today.

Compared to 2005:

Total cereal production decreased by 72,000 tonnes, or 2.7 per cent, to 2.606 million tonnes. With overall yields remaining similar in 2006 at 6.5 tonnes per hectare, much of the decrease in production is due to a fall in cereal areas of 3.2 per cent

Total barley production decreased by 142,000 tonnes, or 8.1 per cent, to 1.595 million tonnes, mostly due to a fall in areas

Wheat production increased by 45,000 tonnes, or 5.4 per cent, to 867,000 tonnes, mostly due to an increase in areas

The production of oats increased by 23,000 tonnes, or 19.8 per cent, to 136,000 tonnes, which was due to increases in yields as well as areas

Oilseed rape production decreased slightly by 3,000 tonnes, or 2.6 per cent, to 120,000 tonnes