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Results from the Scottish December 2017 agricultural survey highlight a significant reduction in the area planted with winter cereals for the 2018 harvest, according to the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)..
Winter wheat
The results from the survey show an 11% decline in the area planted with winter wheat. This is down 10,900ha to 92,900ha. The reduced cropping area potentially places Scotland on course for its lowest level of wheat production since 2013.
Taking the AHDB's five year average yield of 8.5t/ha, Scottish winter wheat production in 2018 looks set be around 790,000t. Even taking a high yield of 9.3t/ha, Scottish wheat production will still fall below last year’s 864,000t.
Winter barley
Scottish winter barley acreage also recorded a significant reduction. The area sown in winter barley is down 20% at 41,600ha. This is the lowest level since the 1970s, according to the AHDB.
Wet autumn
The reduction in planted area is being attributed to wet weather experienced during the planting season. Data from the UK Met Office states that rainfall in Scotland during the period from September to November 2017 was 474mm, the highest figure since 2011.
The reduction in area of winter crops will inevitably lead to an increase in spring plantings.
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