Estimates for the UK harvest, released today by the NFU, show mixed results for farmers. While total tonnage for oil seed rape has risen, wheat and winter and spring barley are expected to experience some significant reductions.
The UK wheat yield is expected to be up by 3%, with production, at 14.9 million tonnes, down 3.5% on last year. This is largely as a result of a decrease in planting in all regions this year. Although the average yield in England is estimated to have increased in line with the UK average, regional yields present marked differences.
2005 yield estimates show an increase in yields in East Anglia and East Midlands and a substantial decrease in West Midlands and, to a lesser extent, in the South of England. Yields in the North of England remain relatively unchanged.
Despite relatively stable yields, UK production of winter barley is expected to decrease by 10% at 2.4m tonnes in line with reduced planting. Similarly, the 4% decline in UK spring barley production (at 3m tonnes) is mainly the result of a 5% decrease in plantings on 2004.
However, the estimated UK winter oilseed rape production, at 1.6m tonnes, shows an increase of 7%, mainly due to increased plantings in 2004.
Commenting on today's figures, Arthur Hill, chairman of the NFU Combinable Crops Board, said: "The increase in yields show that British farmers continue to be amongst the most efficient producers in the world. The drop in the area reflects the difficult economic conditions many farmers are facing with increasing energy costs and the rising price of fertilizer. Unless the economic outlook improves, we may see further reductions in planting for 2006."
Cereal growers across the EU have also reported lower production in 2005, estimating a harvest of about 10% short of last year's record output. In contrast to the UK, total production in the EU has decreased as a result of a lower average yield, with only a small reduction in planting. The worst hit region was Spain where drought reduced the cereal harvest by half.
Paul Temple, Vice Chairman of the NFU Combinable Crops Board, who chairs the committee in Brussels representing European cereal and oilseed producers said:
"UK producers, under a decoupled system and at the forefront of CAP reform, have shown that they are commercially minded, focussed on their markets and on costs of production. In reaction to the current difficult conditions costs will continue to be stripped out and growers will continue to explore alternative routes to market, such as bioethanol"
