Great Britain 2009-10 barley crop plantings up 22 percent

Farmers in Great Britain have planted 22-percent more barley crops for 2009-10 compared to a year ago, according to a planting survey recently released by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

Total barley area increased significantly this year, with a sharp increase in spring barley area and a slight increase in winter barley area, the HGCA said.

The survey also showed that acreage for wheat, oats and oilseed canola have decreased from last year. Total area sown to cereals for harvest in 2009 has declined 1.8 percent or 59,000 hectares from a year ago.

Spring and winter barley areas are up by 131,000 hectares and 3,500 hectares, respectively. Total barley area is at 1.142 million hectares, up 13.4 percent on-year. In comparison, total wheat area dropped 9.6 percent to 1.87 million hectares while canola dropped 7.3 percent to 555,000 hectares.

Tosin Onikoyi, HGCA's analyst, said the increase in barley area suggests possible implications for the wheat and barley balance sheets, given the reduction in wheat area.