Potatoes, maize and beet sowing is the main order of the day across the country this week, but there were still large areas of spring barley being planted as you travel from the midlands up this week.

Small pockets of cereals were still being sown in parts of the midlands and further south on more marginal ground, but in the majority of cases further south sowing had moved onto potatoes and forage crops.

Speaking to industry this week, it will come as no surprise that spring barley area is estimated downwards, given the increase in winter cereal and oilseed rape area. However, while winter area may have taken some of the spring barley area there are still suggestions that the total cropping area will decline in 2026 given high costs and fairly stagnant grain prices.

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