The latest Planting and Variety Survey from AHDB, conducted between April 15 and June 14, 2024, has highlighted a significant reduction in the planting of cereals and oilseed rape (OSR) in Great Britain this year.
The area planted has decreased by 5% in 2024, reaching the lowest level in more than 20 years. Despite slight increases in barley (6%) and oats (9%), the significant declines in wheat and OSR plantings (9% and 21% respectively) have overshadowed these results.
According to the Met Office, the duration from September 2023 to May 2024 experienced the highest recorded rainfall in the UK since 1836, totalling 1,157 mm - 25% above the five-year average from 2018/19 to 2022/23.
AHDB analyst Matt Darragh stated: “This substantial rainfall across the UK considerably limited the opportunity farmers had to undertake winter and spring planting. What’s more, it has meant unfavourable growing conditions for the crops that were planted, with sunshine hours the lowest since 1995-96.
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“The falls in winter cropping and rises in spring cropping are less severe than AHDB’s Early Bird Survey (EBS) indicated back in early March. However, this likely reflects the wetter than usual conditions continuing through the spring. Some winter crops, which were in poor condition and targeted to be replaced with spring options, may have been kept because the weather offered limited windows to sow spring crops.
He concluded: “Overall, the reduced area and poorer crop conditions, especially for winter crops, points to lower cereals and OSR production in 2024.”
Although some regions in GB experienced greater impacts than others, most saw a decline in crop areas. Notably, in Northern Ireland, the total wheat and barley area is estimated to have increased by 2% year-on-year and 6% above the five-year average, reaching 30.5 Kha.
Key Findings of the Planting & Variety Survey 2024:
• Wheat: In the UK, the total wheat area is estimated at 1,560 Kha, down 9% from the previous year. This is the second smallest planted area since 1981, only behind 2020.
• Barley: The total barley area in the UK has increased by 6%, reaching 1,207 Kha, which is just 1% above the five-year average. The spring barley area saw a significant rise of 18% to 804 Kha, the third-largest area in at least 20 years. In contrast, winter barley dropped by 12% to 402 Kha, 2% below the five-year average.
• Oats: In GB, the oats area is estimated at 180 Kha, marking a 9% increase from last year. Despite this historical high, the area is still 2% below the five-year average.
• Oilseed Rape: The OSR area in GB is estimated to have decreased by 21% to 307 Kha, the second-lowest area since at least 2000 and 59% below its peak in 2012.
• Cereals: The total cereals area in GB has decreased by 3% to 2,916 Kha, the lowest since 2007.
• Cereals and OSR: The combined area for cereals and OSR in GB has fallen by 5% to 3,223 Kha, the lowest since at least the turn of the century, heavily influenced by the historically low OSR area.
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