The area sown to cereal crops in 2017 has fallen, according to initial data from the Department of Agriculture’s assessment of this year’s Basic Payment Scheme applications. The areas sown to fodder beet, maize and oilseed rape all rose slightly, while the area planted to potatoes is down marginally. Wild bird cover is now the fifth-biggest land use, coming after grass and the three main cereals.

  • The area of spring barley, traditionally the most popular cereal, has fallen by 1,718ha to 111,155ha.
  • After increasing last year, the area under winter barley has fallen by 10,451ha to 63,310ha.
  • Winter wheat has fallen by 915ha to 58,575ha.
  • The area of winter oats in 2017 is 14,039ha.
  • The area of spring oats is 9,702ha.
  • Spring wheat area is 6,405ha, a drop of 1,020ha.

    • Total cereal area has fallen by 16,012ha to 263,757ha, a drop of 5.7%. The area under wild bird cover crop this year is 20,068ha, grown mostly for GLAS. It is ahead of potatoes, maize and oilseed rape.

    The area under peas and beans this year is a combined 13,015ha, an increase of 802ha. This is above Ireland’s maximum threshold area for protein aid payment which – as a result – could be reduced.