UK to sharply cut spring barley area in 2026

a slight reduction of 2%, down to 356,000 hectares. According to initial results from AHDB’s Early Bird Survey, oat plantings will also decrease in 2025, while wheat and oilseed rape are set to expand. The UK wheat area is forecast to rise by 1% to 1.67 million hectares, although it will remain below the five-year average. Oilseed rape is expected to show the strongest rebound. Its planted area could increase by nearly one-third to 316,000 hectares, following a drop to a 40-year low in recent seasons. Analysts note that strong yields in 2025 and a more favourable margin outlook have made the crop more attractive compared with cereals. Helen Plant, senior cereals and oilseeds analyst at AHDB, said that despite favourable autumn drilling conditions in 2025, the market environment remains challenging: cereal prices are lower, milling and malting premiums have weakened, and production costs have risen. Against this backdrop, oilseed rape offered better profitability prospects. The ...