January 16, 2009
UK wheat crop record size at 17.2 million tonnes, up 30 percent on-year
The UK's 2008 wheat crop harvest was a record 17.2 million tonnes, slightly less than the provisional estimate of 17.5 million tonnes, but up 30 percent on the year, said the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Thursday (January 15).
"Excellent planting conditions in autumn 2007, as well as strong cereal prices and the reduction to 0 percent set aside, contributed to the high wheat area planted," said the report.
A requirement for farmers to leave 10 percent of their land fallow was scrapped in 2007 in response to world grain supply concerns.
The UK's 2008 total cereal harvest was estimated at 24.3 million tonnes, down from the October estimate of 24.6 million tonnes, although up 27 percent on the year, said Defra.
Barley also saw increased production, with 2008 plantings up 15 percent on the year and output forecast at 6.1 million tonnes, versus 5.1 million tonnes in 2007, said Defra.
Only rapeseed saw a fall in production on year, with 2008 output forecast at around 2 million tonnes, down from 2.1 million tonnes in 2007.
