November 19, 2010

UK wheat area to rise by 3% for 2011 harvest

The UK wheat area for harvest 2011 looks set to increase by 3% on this year to 1.98 million hectares, according to the Cereal and Oilseeds Division of the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (HGCA).

This is a smaller rise than many anticipated, with expansion limited by rotational constraints and high prices for other crops, including oilseed rape, where the area is expected to rise by 6% on 2010 levels.

"High market prices and favourable drilling conditions have made winter oilseed rape the most attractive combinable break crop for many farms," said an analyst.

The UK has grown such a large conventional oilseed rape area only once before and the 2011 crop may be close to the rotational limit, the analyst said.

While some of the expansion in wheat and oilseed rape will come from fallow land being brought back into production, the winter barley area is expected to drop by 5% and the spring crop area by 2%. Both the oat and pulse areas are set to fall dramatically, with oats down 12% and pulses falling 20%, on top of the 7% reduction in pulse area this year. Little change is expected in the potato, sugar beet and vegetable areas.

The survey predicted a 13% fall in fallow, which was questioned by Mr Redman. "Although a drop in fallow land is likely given the market conditions, this is a large reduction compared to previous years."